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General strike begins in Kinshasa over Kabila's election postponement General strike begins in Kinshasa over Kabila's election postponement
(35 minutes later)
A general strike has begun in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, in protest at the president’s plans to stay in power beyond the end of his term in December.A general strike has begun in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, in protest at the president’s plans to stay in power beyond the end of his term in December.
Opposition parties called for the strike action to protest against a deal signed on Tuesday that would keep President Joseph Kabila in power until April 2018 by postponing this year’s scheduled presidential vote.Opposition parties called for the strike action to protest against a deal signed on Tuesday that would keep President Joseph Kabila in power until April 2018 by postponing this year’s scheduled presidential vote.
Kabila first took office in 2001, and in 2006 a new constitutional provision limited the presidency to two terms, which expire on 20 December.Kabila first took office in 2001, and in 2006 a new constitutional provision limited the presidency to two terms, which expire on 20 December.
The country’s main opposition party, the UDPS, called the deal signed between the authorities and fringe opposition groups a “flagrant violation” of the constitution and said the strike would show Kabila “the yellow card”.The country’s main opposition party, the UDPS, called the deal signed between the authorities and fringe opposition groups a “flagrant violation” of the constitution and said the strike would show Kabila “the yellow card”.
At 9.00am local time, roads in northern parts of Kinshasa – a city of 10 million people – were completely deserted and most shops were closed. They would typically would have been bustling ahead of the work and school day. The upmarket Gombe district was unusually quiet. At 9am local time, roads in northern parts of Kinshasa – a city of 10 million people – were completely deserted and most shops were closed. They would typically would have been bustling ahead of the work and school day. The upmarket Gombe district was unusually quiet.
In Kasa-Vubu, a district in the south of the city, the only people on Victories Square were around 50 police officers. In Kasa-Vubu, a district in the south of the city, the only people on Victories Square were about 50 police officers.
Officers were deployed in force at other locations, including at parliament and several military bases. The only visible commercial activity taking place was women selling bread and petrol stations that were open, but unused.Officers were deployed in force at other locations, including at parliament and several military bases. The only visible commercial activity taking place was women selling bread and petrol stations that were open, but unused.
Shared taxis had all but stopped and private traffic was near non-existent. Those public buses that were running were practically empty.Shared taxis had all but stopped and private traffic was near non-existent. Those public buses that were running were practically empty.
Despite the widespread strike action in Kinshasa, the situation was normal in the second city, Lubumbashi. In the eastern city of Goma the call to down tools was largely followed and most shops remained closed. Despite the widespread strike action in Kinshasa, the situation was normal in the second city, Lubumbashi. In the eastern city of Goma, the call to down tools was largely followed and most shops remained closed.
The agreement to allow Kabila to serve into 2018 followed the European Union’s threat of sanctions if the country did not hold elections in 2017.The agreement to allow Kabila to serve into 2018 followed the European Union’s threat of sanctions if the country did not hold elections in 2017.
At “national dialogue” talks aimed at reducing tensions, it was concluded that the president was seeking to remain indefinitely.At “national dialogue” talks aimed at reducing tensions, it was concluded that the president was seeking to remain indefinitely.
But the main opposition coalition – Rassemblement (Gathering) – boycotted those talks, branding them a ploy by Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his term.But the main opposition coalition – Rassemblement (Gathering) – boycotted those talks, branding them a ploy by Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his term.