DRC: Return of opposition leader’s body scheduled for May 12

Event

The repatriation and burial of the late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, previously set for March 11 in the Gombe cemetery in Kinshasa but postponed due to disagreements over his burial site, has been scheduled for Friday, May 12. Tshisekedi will reportedly be buried at the Union for Democracy and Progress Socialist Party (UDPS) headquarters in the capital’s Limete area.

Large crowds and rallies are likely at the airport and at the UPDS building on the abovementioned date, and may result in significant traffic disruptions; violence cannot be ruled out.

Context

The circumstances surrounding the return of Tshisekedi’s body were unclear following his unexpected death in Brussels on February 1. Tshisekedi's family initially proposed four symbolic sites for his mausoleum, including three in central Kinshasa and at the headquarters for the UPDS in Limete. However, government officials denied their requests, citing a law that states bodies must be buried in cemeteries.

Tshisekedi's death brought renewed tension to a December 31 negotiated agreement, in which he was to play a primary role, that calls for elections to be carried out in December 2017; President Joseph Kabila's term was officially due to end on December 19, 2016.

According to the agreement, elections are to take place in December 2017 and no change of the constitution or a referendum on the issue will be organized until that date. In addition, the agreement ensures that the post of prime minister is entrusted to the opposition coalition; that a National Council for the Supervision of the Agreement and of the electoral process (CNSA), originally supposed to be presided over by Tshisekedi, will be created; as well as a commission of high magistrates in charge of easing political tensions.

The security situation remains relatively calm in Kinshasa, although the atmosphere has remained tense following political negotiations over power-sharing arrangements between the ruling party and the opposition, especially since President Kabila designated Bruno Tshibala as Prime Minister on April 7. The nomination triggered discontent and dissent among the coalition of opposition parties “Le Rassemblement” and the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco), denouncing the non-respect of the December 31 agreement, which stipulates that the leader of the Rassemblement should have provided the president with a list of candidates from which to nominate someone for the post of prime minister.

In the rest of the country, particularly in the central and eastern provinces, violence continues to be reported, particularly by local militias.

Advice

Individuals present in the DRC are advised to monitor local media for updates and to avoid all political events and public gatherings as violence may flare up without warning.

As a reminder, the majority of Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu (particularly outside the cities of Goma and Bukavu), as well as the northeast portion of Eastern province and the northern part of Katanga due to the presence of armed groups. Certain governments also advise against nonessential travel to the rest of the country. Travel should only be considered with proper security support in place.