DRC: Several wounded in clashes in Mbuji-Mayi (Kasaï-Oriental) Dec. 1

Event

According to the Kasaï-Oriental governor, at least 15 people were wounded in political violence in Mbuji-Mayi (Kasaï-Oriental) on Saturday, December 1. Supporters of President Joseph Kabila's Common Front Coalition for Congo (FCC) and opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) fought in the streets of Mbuji Maya, wounding 15 people and leading to the arrest of around 45 participants. The FCC blames the UDPS of instigating the incident, though the UDPS claims FCC members were destroying campaign materials and blamed the police for intimidation and arresting activists. Further violence in Kasaï-Oriental and around the country in the coming weeks before December 23 elections.

Context

The DRC will hold presidential and legislative elections on December 23. President Joseph Kabila is not running and has supported Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

Advice

Individuals in the DRC are advised to monitor the political situation, avoid all protests and political demonstrations due to the risk of violence and arrest, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments, and refrain from discussing sensitive political topics in public.