In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the National Cyber Defense Council (CNC) is at the heart of a heated controversy. Initially designed to secure the country's digital space, this body is now accused by the African Association for Human Rights (ASADHO) of having transformed into a tool of political repression.

ASADHO's grievances: "A disguised political police force"

For Jean-Claude Katende, president of ASADHO, the CNC is significantly overstepping its authority. The organization denounces serious abuses and demands the immediate release of the detained political and social activists.

1. Illegal detentions: Some prominent figures are reportedly being deprived of their liberty for 8 to 9 months without trial.
2. Opaque methods: The association reports "nighttime visits" to citizens' homes, carried out without a judicial warrant.
3. Unconstitutionality: ASADHO believes that the CNC acts outside of national and international laws, behaving like a secret service intended to stifle dissent.

"You don't build a rule of law by drowning out dissenting voices," insists Jean-Claude Katende, who calls either for strict adherence to the law or for the outright dissolution of the Council.

The government's response: Security and the rule of law

Faced with these accusations, the presidential camp firmly defends the institution. Thierry Monsenepwo, a member of the Sacred Union , rejects the term "abductions" and clarifies the role of the CNC:

1. Technical support: The CNC is neither a court nor a police force, but a strategic body working under the supervision of the judicial authorities.
2. Legality of arrests: According to him, only the judicial authorities decide on charges and arrests, based on legal requisitions.
3. Security context: The government emphasizes that cyber defense is crucial to protecting the nation against real threats, while asserting that it does not want to sacrifice individual freedoms for the sake of security.

The debate remains open: between national security imperatives and the protection of public freedoms, the functioning of the CNC crystallizes tensions in a Congolese political climate that is already particularly sensitive.