DRC: Opposition rallies October 13, 26

Event

Leaders of the main political opposition parties are planning to hold a rally on Saturday, October 13, in Lubumbashi (Haut Katanga province), to denounce issues related to the electoral process and the use of voting machines. Furthermore, opposition leaders have called for related protests to take place nationwide on Friday, October 26.

A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near such gatherings. Clashes between opposition supporters and security forces cannot be ruled out.

Context

A similar joint opposition protest that took place on September 29 in the capital Kinshasa passed off peacefully.

Opposition supporters and civil society activists accuse the government of excluding key opposition candidates, such as Moïse Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba, from the upcoming presidential elections taking place on December 23. They also denounce inconsistencies in the electoral register, including 6 million registered voters whose fingerprints have not been digitally recorded, casting doubts on the government's ability to carry out transparent elections. Finally, the use of the voting machines in these elections is highly contested due to the alleged risk of fraud.

Advice

Individuals in DRC are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.