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The Democratic Republic of Congo has stepped up security in the capital Kinshasa amid concerns about the safety of athletes taking part in the International Francophone Games.

According to the games coordinator Isidor Kwanja, around 4,500 additional police, backed by state security agents have been deployed ahead of the event. Athletes will also be personally escorted by the police.  Surveillance cameras will monitor the athletes’ accommodations.

The lack of security in the city is the latest setback for organizers of the 10-day Jeux de la Francophonie, which had already been pushed back two years from 2021 to bring infrastructure up to international standards.

The murder of an opposition spokesman this month exacerbated doubts over authorities’ ability to secure the games.

Both Canada’s Quebec and Belgium’s French-speaking Wallonia have cut back on athletes.

 

(Story compiled with assistance from Reuters)