In the Democratic Republic of Congo, protests took place on Tuesday, resulting in the arrest of dozens. These protests are related to proposed changes to the constitution that would allow the current president, Félix Tshisekedi, to participate in elections for a third term.
Details of the Protests and Reactions
The protests began in the capital Kinshasa and several other major cities across the country, and according to human rights activists, the police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. These protests were particularly organized by the "Article 64" (C64) coalition, a broad opposition alliance that opposes the legal changes.
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Videos shared on social media show hundreds of protesters in the streets of Kinshasa holding flags of various political parties. Human rights activists reported that the protests began peacefully but quickly escalated into clashes between opposition supporters and government supporters. Government supporters belong to a group of youths known as the "Progress Forces," which is recognized as an informal nationalist movement.
Number of Arrests and Official Reactions
Jean-Marc Kabounda, a member of C64, announced that members of the "Progress Forces" attacked protesters with knives and sharp weapons, leading to police intervention to disperse the gatherings. Timothée Mbouya, an activist from a local NGO called "Justice" (Justicia), stated that around 70 people were arrested in the Haut-Katanga province.
Joseph Kongolo, the provincial coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission in Haut-Katanga, said that the police, along with military personnel, suppressed protesters in Lubumbashi, a major mining center in southeastern Congo, as well as in the provincial cities of Likasi and Kasumbalesa. He added, "A large number of police forces were deployed at all protest gathering points."
Blaz Kiliambaliba, the police chief of Katanga province, denied reports regarding the arrest of peaceful protesters. In Mbandaka, the capital of the northwestern Equateur province, activists reported that about a dozen people were arrested and nearly 100 others were dispersed.
A member of the "Fight for Change" popular movement, Gentil Nsifu, stated that police forces were deployed at several strategic points in Mbandaka in the early hours of Tuesday. Reports of similar suppression have also emerged from Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province.
No official announcement regarding the number of arrests has been made yet. Martin Fayulu, one of the leaders of C64 and a former presidential candidate, announced that they are considering filing an international complaint against Tshisekedi for violence against opposition activists. He said, "He wants to stay in power at any cost. This will not work."
The Congolese parliament approved a bill in June that allows the proposed constitutional changes to be put to a public vote. In the same month, at least two people in Congo lost their lives and several others were injured when security forces opened fire on hundreds of protesters opposing the legal changes.
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