DRC: Nationwide protests on December 29 and 31

Event

The LUCHA youth group has called for indefinite anti-government protests to take place nationwide from Friday, December 29, until President Joseph Kabila leaves the office. Although organizers have stated that the demonstrations are intended to remain peaceful, clashes between protesters and police are possible at any such gatherings.

In addition, Catholics throughout the country, supported by a coalition of civil society groups, have called for peaceful protests to take place on Sunday, December 31, to denounce a new electoral reform law that came into effect on December 25, and to mark the first-year anniversary of the 31 December 2016 political agreement, under which elections were to take place in 2017. As with any demonstration in the DRC, an increased security presence is to be expected surrounding these gatherings and violence cannot be ruled out.

Context

The DRC is experiencing a political crisis that stems from President Kabila's refusal to step down after his term expired in December 2016. Under a deal struck between the government and the opposition, long-awaited presidential, legislative, regional, and local elections were supposed to take place before the end of 2017.

However, on November 5, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced that elections would be set to take place one year after this deadline, on December 23, 2018. The opposition coalition has denounced the timeframe, insisting that Kabila leave office by the end of 2017 and demanding a transitional administration be put in place immediately and presidential elections be held in January 2018.

Advice

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