Protesters clash with Congo police over likely delay of November vote

Security forces fired tear gas at an opposition march in the capital Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Thursday (May 26) after opposition leaders called for a day of nationwide protest against President Joseph Kabila, over indications that November elections will be postponed.

Opposition parties and civil society groups called for nationwide demonstrations to protest against a May 11 ruling by Congo’s highest court that would allow the president to remain in power if elections due in November are not held.

While a march that was authorised in Kinshasa, in the far west of the vast country, drew several thousand opposition supporters, demonstrations in other cities were banned by local authorities.

“We have all come together to be united as one opposition. We are here to say no to Mr. Joseph Kabila so that he is not able to seek a third term, or else he will have to walk over our dead bodies. So we are determined to fulfil our goal of kicking him out. Enough is enough, we want political change,” said protester and Kinshasa resident Steve Ekembe.

Constitutional term limits bar Kabila, in power since 2001, from running for a third elected term. But the government has said the election to choose his successor is likely to be delayed by budgetary and logistical obstacles.

Opposition leaders, however, accuse Kabila of stalling the elections in order to extend his rule, and Western nations including the United States have warned him to stick to the electoral calendar.

Government officials have denied Kabila is seeking to cling to power.

“No, Mr. Kabila cannot take Congo hostage. This is our country, it is the land of our ancestors, so he needs to step down on December 20. If he doesn’t leave power, the constitution says in article 64 that if the president doesn’t organise elections for the upcoming term, the people will take destiny into their own hands. The people need to oust him, period,” said protester and DRC citizen Rolly Lukwayi.

While the march began peacefully, security forces soon intervened, accusing opposition supporters of straying from the approved route. When the marchers continued to advance, police fired tear gas, scattering protesters into side streets, before some attempted to continue the demonstration along the previously agreed upon route.

A heavy deployment of riot police was visible in the streets of the southern mining hub of Lubumbashi, where supporters of opposition presidential candidate Moise Katumbi have repeatedly clashed with police this month.

In Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, police also fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters who burned tyres and blocked streets with large rocks.