The state of siege imposed in parts of eastern DRC deeply changed the relationship between security, justice and public expression.
For authorities, it is a tool to respond to insecurity. For several activists, it also became a subject of criticism.
When citizens criticize a security measure, the boundary between public debate and prosecution can become sensitive.
Such situations feed fear among some activists, especially those denouncing abuses, arrests or restrictions.
In exile narratives, criticism of a security policy often appears as a trigger for pressure.
Source / reference: Human Rights Watch