Kidnapping of 7 Activists in Congo... Security Agency Involved

A youth group reported that individuals suspected to be from the national intelligence agency kidnapped seven young activists during a peaceful gathering in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday. The group mentioned that "the activists, including four members of the group, were taken by people dressed in civilian clothing to a white Jeep and driven to an unknown location." They added, "The incident occurred during a gathering in the capital, Kinshasa, to highlight the security crisis in the eastern part of the country." In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said: "Instead of kidnapping innocent citizens, the intelligence agency could be useful in eastern Congo and confront the armed groups that are active, including the M23 group." A march was organized on Saturday to mark 600 days since the M23 rebels occupied the strategic border town of Bunagana in the eastern part of the country. Their repeated attacks since 2022 have led to the displacement of tens of thousands and exacerbated the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis in the region for decades.