Security officers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo used tear gas and engaged in continuous street combat with opposition demonstrators on Saturday in Kinshasa over claimed errors in voter registration.
The protestors are also enraged by the rising cost of living and ongoing unrest in the nation’s east, where armed militias and rebel groups have killed hundreds of people and driven over a million people from their homes.
Just as the opposition leaders-called rally got underway, security agents detained about a dozen protestors.
A young man in a shirtless state was seen being kicked, repeatedly hit with a helmet, and dragged around the ground by several uniformed soldiers in a video that was posted on social media. Reuters was unable to confirm the video’s authenticity.
Three cops were detained for assaulting a juvenile during the demonstration, according to police spokeswoman Sylvano Kasongo, who spoke to Reuters. 27 police officers were hurt during the altercations, he continued.
Albert-Fabrice Puela, the minister of human rights for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, denounced the use of force by the security services against the minor and protesters in a statement released on Saturday. He also called for an investigation.
On December 20, general elections in Congo are scheduled, and it is anticipated that President Felix Tshisekedi would run for re-election.
However, political unrest is escalating in the top cobalt-producing nation, with several opposition candidates alleging delays and anomalies in a voter registration process.
Four opposition figures, including Martin Fayulu, who finished second in the 2018 presidential race, and Moise Katumbi, a rich businessman and former regional governor who plans to run in 2023, called for the demonstration on Saturday.
“They’re using tear gas, which is sad. “Just before, it was actual ammunition,” Katumbi told reporters outside the protest site.
By phone, Fayulu reported that security personnel were surrounding his vehicle and continuing to use tear gas to disperse protesters.
Fayulu stated, “We won’t compromise on this issue. The election registration is unreliable.
Data on voter registration are anticipated to be released by the Congo’s electoral commission on Sunday.
Reuters
