This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/20/drc-protests-grow-as-kabila-clings-to-power-despite-his-term-ending
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| DRC protests grow as Kabila clings to power despite his term ending DRC protests grow as Kabila clings to power despite his term ending | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of protesters have clashed with security forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the mandate of the president, Joseph Kabila, expired with no sign of the 45-year-old former guerrilla commander leaving power. | Hundreds of protesters have clashed with security forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the mandate of the president, Joseph Kabila, expired with no sign of the 45-year-old former guerrilla commander leaving power. |
| In the capital, Kinshasa, police and soldiers fired live ammunition as opposition activists burned tyres, attacked an office of the ruling party and threw stones. Violence was also reported in the southern city of Lubumbashi. | In the capital, Kinshasa, police and soldiers fired live ammunition as opposition activists burned tyres, attacked an office of the ruling party and threw stones. Violence was also reported in the southern city of Lubumbashi. |
| The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC has deployed patrols in Kinshasa and elsewhere in an effort to head off any escalation. There are widespread concerns that the political crisis could degenerate, possibly leading to civil war. | The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC has deployed patrols in Kinshasa and elsewhere in an effort to head off any escalation. There are widespread concerns that the political crisis could degenerate, possibly leading to civil war. |
| In a video message released overnight, the senior opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on Congolese people to peacefully resist an “illegal, illegitimate leader”. He said Kabila had committed treason by holding on to office by what he called a coup d’état. | In a video message released overnight, the senior opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on Congolese people to peacefully resist an “illegal, illegitimate leader”. He said Kabila had committed treason by holding on to office by what he called a coup d’état. |
| Barnabé Kikaya, the president’s chief diplomatic adviser, said: “The government … is committed to ensuring peace, order and respect for the law throughout the country. It is a challenging moment.” | Barnabé Kikaya, the president’s chief diplomatic adviser, said: “The government … is committed to ensuring peace, order and respect for the law throughout the country. It is a challenging moment.” |
| Expected protests on Monday were quelled by a massive security presence, the restriction of internet access and a wave of arrests. Human rights campaigners said around 160 people had been detained across the DRC in the four days before Kabila’s mandate expired. | Expected protests on Monday were quelled by a massive security presence, the restriction of internet access and a wave of arrests. Human rights campaigners said around 160 people had been detained across the DRC in the four days before Kabila’s mandate expired. |
| More were held overnight as security forces moved through neighbourhoods known to be loyal to the opposition in Kinshasa and other cities. | More were held overnight as security forces moved through neighbourhoods known to be loyal to the opposition in Kinshasa and other cities. |
| “The soldiers came and were going from house to house picking people up,” a resident in the Matete area of Kinshasa told the Guardian. | “The soldiers came and were going from house to house picking people up,” a resident in the Matete area of Kinshasa told the Guardian. |
| In nearby streets, young men lit tyres before being chased away by police, and scattered shots rang out. Elsewhere in the neighbourhood, police and heavily armed soldiers confronted protesters across burning barricades. | In nearby streets, young men lit tyres before being chased away by police, and scattered shots rang out. Elsewhere in the neighbourhood, police and heavily armed soldiers confronted protesters across burning barricades. |
| “We are going to protest until the last possible moment. We are proud of our country. We want power for the people, of the people,” said François, a 27-year-old teacher in Matete. | “We are going to protest until the last possible moment. We are proud of our country. We want power for the people, of the people,” said François, a 27-year-old teacher in Matete. |
| Roads were empty across Kinshasa, which appeared entirely shut down for the second consecutive day. Troops and armoured vehicles were deployed at strategic points. There were similar scenes elsewhere across the country of 70 million people. | Roads were empty across Kinshasa, which appeared entirely shut down for the second consecutive day. Troops and armoured vehicles were deployed at strategic points. There were similar scenes elsewhere across the country of 70 million people. |
| Kabila took power in 2001 and has served two five-year terms after elections in 2006 and 2011. The constitution does not allow for a third term, and critics accuse the president of seeking to hold on to power indefinitely. | Kabila took power in 2001 and has served two five-year terms after elections in 2006 and 2011. The constitution does not allow for a third term, and critics accuse the president of seeking to hold on to power indefinitely. |
| Tshisekedi stopped short of calling for mass demonstrations – which would almost certainly result in significant bloodshed – and said he would respect the “timetable decided by the bishops”. | Tshisekedi stopped short of calling for mass demonstrations – which would almost certainly result in significant bloodshed – and said he would respect the “timetable decided by the bishops”. |
| Talks between the government and opposition factions brokered by the Catholic church are currently suspended but are due to restart later this week. | Talks between the government and opposition factions brokered by the Catholic church are currently suspended but are due to restart later this week. |
| Tshisekedi said the crisis could be resolved by the creation of an interim government. However, though he has a loyal following on the streets, the opposition is fragmented. | Tshisekedi said the crisis could be resolved by the creation of an interim government. However, though he has a loyal following on the streets, the opposition is fragmented. |
| Kabila’s supporters and ministers say he has no intention of clinging to office and promise elections will be held as soon as is practical. | Kabila’s supporters and ministers say he has no intention of clinging to office and promise elections will be held as soon as is practical. |
| “The constitution states that [the president] will remain … until his successor is chosen. The president has affirmed he will abide by the constitution and he will. We cannot allow our fragile peace to be thrown into doubt,” said Kikaya. | “The constitution states that [the president] will remain … until his successor is chosen. The president has affirmed he will abide by the constitution and he will. We cannot allow our fragile peace to be thrown into doubt,” said Kikaya. |
| He denied that Kabila wanted to change the constitution to allow a third term, as several other African leaders have done in recent years, and said logistical problems would delay the election until 2018 “in all probability”. | He denied that Kabila wanted to change the constitution to allow a third term, as several other African leaders have done in recent years, and said logistical problems would delay the election until 2018 “in all probability”. |
| “If we had wanted to change the constitution to allow a third term we would have already done it,” he said. | “If we had wanted to change the constitution to allow a third term we would have already done it,” he said. |
| Over the weekend tens of thousands of armed police and paramilitaries were deployed on streets across the country. | Over the weekend tens of thousands of armed police and paramilitaries were deployed on streets across the country. |
| In September more than 60 people died when security forces opened fire on an opposition march. | In September more than 60 people died when security forces opened fire on an opposition march. |
| The most recent wave of arrests has targeted organisations such as Lucha and Filimbi favoured by young, educated opposition activists, as well as well-known veterans of opposition politics. | The most recent wave of arrests has targeted organisations such as Lucha and Filimbi favoured by young, educated opposition activists, as well as well-known veterans of opposition politics. |
| Friends and family of Gloria Sengha, 23, a lawyer and well-known member of Lucha, told local media that she had last been seen in Kinshasa three days ago. Her current whereabouts were unknown, they said. | Friends and family of Gloria Sengha, 23, a lawyer and well-known member of Lucha, told local media that she had last been seen in Kinshasa three days ago. Her current whereabouts were unknown, they said. |
| The crisis has been building for months. Both negotiations and protests have intensified as the end of Kabila’s mandate approached. Washington and European capitals have sought to put pressure on Kabila to hold elections and have imposed sanctions on members of his close circle. | The crisis has been building for months. Both negotiations and protests have intensified as the end of Kabila’s mandate approached. Washington and European capitals have sought to put pressure on Kabila to hold elections and have imposed sanctions on members of his close circle. |
| There is widespread popular discontent at Kabila’s rule. High inflation, the devaluation of the local currency and flagging investment is causing deep economic hardship throughout the country, where two-thirds of people live on less than £1.50 a day. | There is widespread popular discontent at Kabila’s rule. High inflation, the devaluation of the local currency and flagging investment is causing deep economic hardship throughout the country, where two-thirds of people live on less than £1.50 a day. |
| “It’s impossible to live. There are no jobs, there is no trade, and food is more and more expensive. We are surviving only by struggling every day,” said Mary, a 38-year-old housewife in Matete. | “It’s impossible to live. There are no jobs, there is no trade, and food is more and more expensive. We are surviving only by struggling every day,” said Mary, a 38-year-old housewife in Matete. |
| Observers fear the crisis could plunge the DRC, which has never known a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, into a prolonged period of damaging and possibly very violent instability. | Observers fear the crisis could plunge the DRC, which has never known a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, into a prolonged period of damaging and possibly very violent instability. |
| At least five people died when a newly emerged armed group loosely connected to the opposition launched assaults overnight on government troops’ in North Kivu, in the restive east. | At least five people died when a newly emerged armed group loosely connected to the opposition launched assaults overnight on government troops’ in North Kivu, in the restive east. |
| International aid officials in Kinshasa believe such violence will intensify over coming months, further destabilising the country. | International aid officials in Kinshasa believe such violence will intensify over coming months, further destabilising the country. |
| Many observers now fear a return to the brutal civil wars that killed an estimated 5 million people in the DRC between 1997, when the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko was ousted after a 32-year rule, and 2003. | Many observers now fear a return to the brutal civil wars that killed an estimated 5 million people in the DRC between 1997, when the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko was ousted after a 32-year rule, and 2003. |