07 Aug 2017 | 08:36 PM UTC
DRC: Shots fired into the air in Kinshasa August 7
Unidentified gunmen reportedly fire shots into the air in the Selembao, Ngiri-Ngiri, Kasa Vabu, Matete, Bumbu, and N’djili districts of the capital Kinshasa on August 7; avoid the areas
Event
According to local media reports, shots were fired into the air starting at 09:00 (local time) on Monday, August 7, in front of the Makala central prison in the capital Kinshasa. More shots were heard later in the Selembao, Ngiri-Ngiri, Kasa Vabu, Matete, and Bumbu districts (located near the prison), as well as in the N’djili district (near the Kinshasa airport). Confrontations between the gunmen and security forces have been reported, along with unconfirmed reports of injuries.
The situation reportedly pushed local residents to take shelter at home, some shops to close, and the streets to be temporarily deserted. The reason for the disturbance remains unclear, although some local sources suspect militants from the mystic-religious cult Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK). Extra security forces have been deployed to the area and early reports indicate that the situation is back to normal.
Context
The BDK is a banned religious-cultural-political movement, created in 1969 by Ne Mwanda Nsémi, which fights for the protection and interests of the Kongo people. The group bases their claims on the centuries-old Kongo Kingdom that was abolished by the Portuguese in 1914. In February, the BDK was accused of inciting violence and was targeted by security forces after Nsémi threatened the government in a video that has been circulated on social networks, in which he questioned the nationality of President Joseph Kabila and asked non-native people of Kongo-Central to leave the province. Police arrested Nsémi and his wife following a violent standoff at their Kinshasa residence on March 3. On May 17, Militiamen from the BDK cult carried out an attack against the Makala central prison, allowing Nsémi to escape along with 4600 other detainees.
Advice
Individuals present in the Kinshasa are advised to avoid the above areas in the coming hours, monitor the situation, maintain a high degree of situational awareness, and avoid all rallies and demonstrations due to the risk of violence.
More generally, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country for various security reasons.
