Congolese society and human rights organizations consider that the rule is a restriction on their freedoms
14 Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Congolese Interior Minister, Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou, has stated that the authorities will detain anyone traveling after 9:00 p.m. (local time) without identity documents, a measure imposed to combat insecurity caused by gangs but which has been received very negatively by Congolese society.
The Congolese official announced the new measures this week, including the resumption of foot patrols and identity checks at all ages, as part of the fight against organized crime in urban areas, especially gangs called “koulounas”.
This regulation has not been well received by Congolese citizens and organizations that defend Human Rights, who see the regulation as a restriction on their freedoms.
According to the media ‘Les Echos du Congo Brazzaville’, in the eyes of the Congolese this measure is similar to those taken by the Congolese Labor Party (PTC) at the time of the single party.
“The decision is not reliable. It is a trivial decision. In fact, there are already difficulties in obtaining the identity card. Even when you give a tip (to the agents of the civil identification center) to have it, you have to wait a long time” , have shared the citizens in statements to RFI.
“Whoever goes out after 9-10 pm, if they do not have their identity card, they will be arrested. Anyone we find on the street will be considered a criminal,” said the Congolese headline.
However, after these statements, no official order has been issued to proceed with the application of the new measures.
