Deadly violence sweeps DRC
ARMED men set fire to the headquarters of one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s main opposition parties early yesterday, a day after violent protests, the organisation said, leaving at least two people dead inside.
The uniformed attackers struck the morning after security forces had clashed with party members and other opposition activists protesting against what they say is a bid by President Joseph Kabila to extend his rule.
Two charred bodies were seen inside the offices of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Kinshasa, next to empty gasoline cans strewn across the floor, a Reuters witness said.
“We were sleeping when men came and forced in the door… I saw men in military uniform,” said Jean Toumba, a UDPS member who had been sleeping in the building.
“They threw petrol and set fire to the office. I ran out to hide,” he told Reuters. The attack occurred at about 3am (local time).
Witnesses had initially said three bodies were inside the building. However one man was found alive, though he was badly burnt. Another person was also injured in the fire.
The UDPS is led by Etienne Tshisekedi, an opposition stalwart who lost against Kabila in a 2011 presidential run-off.
The party is one of the main political groupings calling for Kabila to step down when his term expires in December.
The US is threatening further sanctions against the DRC and Kabila after bloody clashes in the capital Kinshasa on Monday left 17 people dead.
Kabila’s chief diplomatic adviser Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi is currently in Washington lobbying US officials not to impose sanctions against key political figures.
Reuters reported on Monday that police clashed with thousands of angry protesters who claimed that Kabila was attempting to extend his political mandate.
During the riots, angry crowds set the offices of Kabila’s political allies on fire and tore down giant posters of the president while chanting “It’s over for you” and “We don’t want you” in French.
“The protest came at a time of growing local and international pressure on Kabila to step down when his term of office legally ends in December,” reported Reuters.
At the heart of the opposition’s anger is their claim that Kabila intends to delay November elections until the end of next year. His supporters deny this. Following the violence, Interior Minister Evariste Boshab accused the demonstrators of engaging in “barbaric and extremely savage acts” which had left 17 dead – three of them policemen.
Earlier on Monday, a Reuters witness saw a crowd burning the body of a police officer in Kinshasa in an apparent act of retaliation for police gunfire.
However, Joseph Olenga Nkoy, the leader of the opposition Reformist Forces for Union and Solidarity claimed 53 people were killed.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Sunday warning that the DRC was on the precipice.
“The DRC government’s decisions about its next presidential election will be critical for the country’s future,” said the rights group.
The report summarised HRW’s research over the past two years in which the government cracked down on activists and opposition party leaders and members who had opposed extending Kabila’s presidency beyond the constitutionally mandated two-term limit, which ends on December 19.
It also included recommendations to deter further abuses and prevent a broader crisis in the coming weeks and months.
HRW also reported that in the days prior to Monday’s violent protests, Kinshasa’s repression of political opponents had spiked.
“In the capital, Kinshasa, about a dozen pro-democracy youth activists were arrested following a meeting, on September 15, on non-violence, peace, and respect of the constitution. They are being held by the national intelligence agency, without charge and without access to their families or lawyers,” reported HRW.
A government spokesman confirmed the detention of opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who suffered a head injury during the march.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Monday expressed deep concern about the violent clashes.
“He condemns the violence that has already led to the death of at least 17 people, including three police officers in the capital,” according to a statement from his office.
The Secretary-General in his statement urged all concerned political leaders and their supporters to refrain from any further violence that could exacerbate the situation.
He called on the Congolese authorities to ensure that the national security forces exercised maximum restraint in their response to protests and appealed to all political leaders to address their differences peacefully and through dialogue. His call followed similar concern expressed at the weekend by the UN Mission in the DRC.– ANA