DRC: Security forces kill at least seven protesters in Kinshasa Dec. 31 /update 3

Event

Congolese security forces killed at least seven protesters participating in anti-Kabila demonstrations in Kinshasa on Sunday, December 31. Another anti-Kabila protester was reportedly killed in Kananga (Lulua province) on Sunday. At least 123 people had been arrested across the country amid the crackdown as of Sunday, according to UN observers.

On Saturday, December 30, Congolese authorities ordered internet and SMS services to be cut from 18:00 (local time) on Saturday until further notice, in advance of Sunday's planned protests. Police erected roadblocks in several parts of Kinshasa on Saturday that remained in place as of Sunday, restricting access to churches and other notable public spaces in several neighborhoods to block the organization of protests in the areas. Police also reportedly disrupted gatherings at churches in Bandalungwa, Lingwala, and Barumbu districts of Kinshasa. Additional protests are possible, and continued heightened security measures and associated traffic disruptions are expected in Kinshasa and other Congolese cities in the coming days.

Context

Kinshasa Governor Andre Kimbuta announced on December 30 that demonstrations planned by Catholic activists and other opposition and civil society organizations for December 31 would not be authorized in the city because there were not enough police officers to provide security. Kimbuta also claimed that the organizers did not provide necessary information about the march route. December 31 marks the one year anniversary of the 2016 political agreement, under which elections were supposed to take place in 2017. 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 that 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.