The arrest of Janvier Sebareme Mukasa, a prominent member of the Swahili-speaking community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has triggered a wave of concern and criticism, adding to growing unease over what many are calling an increasingly targeted crackdown on Congolese Tutsis and Swahili-speakers under President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
Mukasa, originally from Masisi territory in North Kivu, was arrested late on the night of Wednesday, June 18, at his residence in Kinshasa.
According to his family and local sources, the arrest was carried out by agents of the National Cyber Defence Council, accompanied by members of the Republican Guard, the military police, and the national police.
The operation was reportedly ordered directly by the Presidency.
Though Mukasa is known for his apolitical stance and is not affiliated with any armed group or political movement, he has been a vocal advocate for community harmony.
As an active figure in the Barza Intercommunautaire du Nord-Kivu in Kinshasa, he has worked to foster peaceful coexistence among Congo’s diverse ethnic groups, especially in the wake of long-running tensions in the east.
His relatives, who live in Canada, say they have had no contact with him since his arrest and are increasingly worried for his safety.
They have indicated plans to reach out to the Canadian Embassy in Kinshasa to seek clarification and assurances from Congolese authorities.
The arrest has reignited accusations from rights groups and members of the Swahili-speaking community, who argue that Mukasa’s case is just the latest in a disturbing pattern.
“Not a week goes by without Félix Tshisekedi arresting a Swahili-speaker,” one community representative stated.
“These are discriminatory practices targeting Congolese Tutsis, many of whom are being arbitrarily detained without due process.”
Despite official declarations from Kinshasa promoting unity and non-discrimination, the growing number of detentions is seen by critics as a contradiction of those stated values.
Neither the National Cyber Defence Council nor the Presidency has issued a formal statement on Mukasa’s arrest as of Friday afternoon.
With mounting calls for transparency and accountability, international observers are watching closely, concerned that ethnic profiling and politically motivated arrests could further inflame tensions in a country already grappling with deep-rooted conflict in its eastern provinces.