Serious concerns have emerged regarding the safety of politicians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following an attack on Jean-Pierre Belesi, one of the spokespersons for former President Joseph Kabila’s PPRD party. The attack is being described as politically motivated.
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According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on Monday night around 10:30 p.m. as Belesi was returning home from Kin Marché, a popular area in Kinshasa.
He was ambushed at the entrance to his residence and subjected to a brutal beating by individuals reportedly dressed in military-style clothing associated with youth militias supporting the UDPS party of President Félix Tshisekedi.
Witnesses said the attackers were armed with war-like tools, including tires for burning, sticks, and machetes. Their aggression appeared to be driven by political hatred.
One local resident who spoke to ITYAZO on condition of anonymity for security reasons stated:
“This was beyond extreme. We saw Belesi being publicly assaulted, and they were saying it was because he belongs to Kabila’s camp.”
The PPRD party has condemned the attack, calling it a major violation of human rights and political freedoms in the country.
A senior party leader in Kinshasa strongly denounced the incident and called for a swift investigation.
“We denounce this political violence by militias using terror to intimidate opposition members. We continue to urge President Tshisekedi to take the lead in ending this provocation,” he said.
As of now, President Félix Tshisekedi’s office and the UDPS party have not issued any statement regarding the incident.
This incident comes at a tense political moment in the country, with growing hostility between the ruling party’s supporters and the opposition.
Political analysts are urging for dialogue to prevent the country from sliding back into division and political darkness.
