17 Dead In DR Congo Clashes Ahead Of Opposition Rally
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published September 19, 2016 | 10:20 PM
KINSHASA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -19th Sept,2016) - At least 17 people, mostly civilians, were killed on Monday when clashes erupted ahead of a planned opposition rally in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, a minister said, warning the toll was "provisional".
It was the worst violence in Kinshasa since January 2015 when a police crackdown on another opposition protest left several dozen people dead. The clashes began during the morning several hours before the rally, which authorities later cancelled, was to have taken place.
Demonstrators were to demand the resignation of President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001. Speaking to reporters, Interior Minister Evariste Boshab described the violence as an attempted "uprising" and said the victims included 14 civilians and three police officers.
"By midday (1100 GMT), the sad and painful provisional toll from these barbaric and savage acts... (stood at) 17 dead, among them three police officers, one of whom was burnt alive, and 14 civilians who were involved in looting," he said.
The main opposition parties had called for a nationwide demonstration to "give notice" to Kabila, whose mandate expires on December 20. Although Kabila is banned by the constitution from running again, he has not made any move to schedule elections, fuelling fears he will seek to extend his stay in office.
In May, the Constitutional Court said Kabila could remain in office in a caretaker capacity until an election is held, triggering a wave of angry protests. - 'A failed uprising' - ======================= Monday's rally had been due to start in Kinshasa in early afternoon, but during the morning, scuffles broke out between stone-throwing youths and anti-riot police.
Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of stone-throwers as they tried to march on parliament ahead of the demonstration, which was promptly cancelled by the authorities. "Kinshasa just experienced an uprising which ended in failure," Boshab said, accusing demonstrators of "deliberately" ignoring a schedule which had been agreed with the authorities.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende had earlier told AFP that two policemen were killed in violence against the ruling party's offices in the volatile Limete district.
A Catholic nun said one of the policemen had been "burnt alive".
Government officials also accused the opposition of "targeted looting", while private security officials said there had been several looting incidents involving banks and Chinese-run shops in the south of the city, which is home to some 10 million people.
- 'Kabila, get out!' - ====================== Earlier, youths were seen hurling stones at police on the city's main avenue as plumes of smoke rose into the air from burning tyres and from a car and a minibus that had been set alight.
"Kabila, get out!" they shouted as they waved the blue-and-white flags of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), which is headed by veteran leader Etienne Tshisekedi, 83.
Party spokesman Bruno Tshibala had earlier told AFP he had seen four bodies in the office of an allied party. Activists were also seen burning a giant poster of Kabila in which he appealed for the two sides to resolve the crisis through "dialogue".
And a diplomatic source reported clashes in several places along the road to the capital's airport. - 'Extremely worrying' - ======================== France on Monday described the unrest as "very dangerous and extremely worrying" and urged Kabila to lay out a clear timetable for elections.
"What matters is the date of elections," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "If they're delayed endlessly, that means that Kabila intends to stay in power," he said.
"That's a situation that is not acceptable." So far, there has been no move to schedule elections and at this stage, it would be practically impossible to organise a poll before the end of the year.
A fringe opposition group has been meeting with the government in a bid to organise a schedule for elections, but opposition leader Tshisekedi has refused to participate in the talks which are due to end on Saturday. Last week, Amnesty International accused Kinshasa of the "systematic repression" of those seeking Kabila's departure.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
6 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
6 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
6 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
6 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
6 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
7 hours ago
-
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
7 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
7 hours ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
7 hours ago -
Taiwan hit by several quakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude
7 hours ago -
'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase
7 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 2nd update
7 hours ago