DRC: Nationwide protests to take place July 31

Event

Activist groups including the Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) youth organization, the Filimbi youth platform, and the Civil Society Action Group (CASC) have called for nationwide protests to take place on Monday, July 31, to demand that a revised electoral calendar be released, slated to happen that same day. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) previously indicated that it may be unable to honor an agreement reached with the opposition to hold elections before the end of 2017.

Protests are scheduled to start from various cities throughout the country and end in front of local CENI headquarter locations; in the capital Kinshasa, where large protests are expected, the demonstrations will end in front of CENI headquarters on the Boulevard du 30 juin (La Gombe district). LUCHA called on all citizens - e.g. professional organizations, religious leaders, political parties - to attend the march. Additionally, the organization called on security forces to disobey orders given to crackdown on protests and called for the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to ensure protesters’ security. Increased police presence and transportation disruptions are likely during the protests, and violent escalation cannot be ruled out.

Context

President Joseph Kabila has been in power since 2001 and refused to step down after his term expired in December 2016. Under a deal struck between the government and the opposition, elections were scheduled to take place before the end of 2017. However, on July 9, the electoral commission announced that a presidential vote would "probably not be possible" this year. The government has repeatedly blamed both budgetary constraints and continued violence for delays in scheduling the election.

In addition, insecurity linked to the presence of armed groups and corresponding military operations persists in the eastern and central areas of the country. Kasai, Kasai Central, and Kasai Oriental provinces have been wracked by violence, with ongoing clashes frequent between the Kaminwa Nsapu militia and government forces. The security situation in eastern DRC, including North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, is also volatile as a result of numerous rebel groups and armed criminal gangs operating in the region. As the political process in Kinshasa stalls, grievances over socioeconomic and political conditions could exacerbate intercommunal violence throughout the country. There is an increased risk of civic unrest and violent crackdowns by security forces in urban areas across the country, including the capital Kinshasa.

Advice

Individuals present in the DRC are advised to monitor local developments, to maintain a high degree of situational awareness, and to avoid all rallies and demonstrations due to the risk of violence.

More generally, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country for various security reasons.