On December 10, 2025, armed individuals wounded Julian Liengola, a professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Kisangani, during a robbery on his home. The incident was one in a series of eight robberies targeting university professors in December.

The perpetrators broke into Liengola’s home on December 10 and ransacked his living room, stealing his computer and other valuables. Several professors in Kisangani had been targeted by armed attacks in the preceding weeks, leading to severe financial losses, and, in a few cases, injury requiring hospitalization. The local chapter of the Association of University Professors released a statement denouncing the climate of insecurity as disrupting the normal functioning of academic activities.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the intimidation of university staff members. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of scholars, students, and staff, including by investigating and holding perpetrators of such acts responsible, in line with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, violent attacks on higher education members undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://actualite.cd/2025/12/24/insecurite-kisangani-des-professeurs-cibles-par-des-bandits-armes-au-moins-8-cas
https://exacte-info.net/2025/12/22/kisangani-lapukis-denonce-une-serie-de-braquages-ciblant-les-professeurs-duniversite/