SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: February 24, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Institute of Applied Technical Studies

Region & Country:Central Africa | Congo (DRC-Kinshasa)

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On February 24, 2025, police clashed with students during a protest at the Institute of Applied Technical Studies (ISTA).

The students were protesting against an increase in tuition fees from FC 778,050 (approximately $272 USD) to FC 997,500 (approximately $349 USD) and a new requirement that the tuition needed to be paid in US dollars.

During the protest, students burned tires, broke the windows of lecture halls, and barricaded the entrances to the campus. The police responded with strong force. Videos posted on the social media platform X show police punching students, with the sound of gunfire in the immediate background. Three students were shot; the severity of the injuries was not clear.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20250226212058345&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AFNL0484
https://x.com/DelaCachette/status/1894039422577905731