Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change

VOA News - January 19, 2015
Protesters against the new electoral law burn tires in Kinshasa on 1.19.2015
Protesters against the new electoral law burn tires in Kinshasa on 1.19.2015 | Enlarge
At least one person was injured when security forces fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital on Monday as opposition parties tried to block a change in the law that may delay elections due in 2016.

Demonstrators are angry about a revised election law that requires a national census be carried out before elections. Such a move could delay the polls by up to three years and allow President Joseph Kabila to remain in office past the end of his term late next year.

The legislation, approved Saturday by the lower house of parliament, was due to go for debate before the Senate, the upper house of parliament, on Monday.

Police in riot gear and armed presidential guards were stationed at every major road junction in the Gombe district, where ministries and administrative buildings are located, in Kinshasa.

In Kinshasa, at least one protester near the University of Kinshasa in the south of the capital was injured after a police officer warned his men would shoot if protestors failed to leave. Several witnesses told the French news agency AFP that a second youth was also injured by gunfire.

Burkina Faso comparison

“We demand that Kabila leaves,” protester Jean-Paul Beya told Reuters. “We think the people are getting there little by little and we will replicate Burkina,” he said, referring to Burkina Faso, where Blaise Compaore was forced to stand aside as president late last year by rallies against a bid to stay in power.

Opposition parties said their leaders, who had called on followers to occupy parliament, were unable to join the protests as their offices were surrounded by security forces.

Critics call the reform a “constitutional coup” but the government says the census is a necessary part of the electoral process in the vast, mineral-rich country of 65 million people.

Kabila has ruled over the vast and troubled central African country since he was catapulted into office as a young soldier by Kinshasa politicians in 2001, days after his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, who was president at the time, was assassinated.

In 2006, Kabila won the first free, democratic presidential poll since independence from Belgium in 1960. He was re-elected in 2011.

Elsewhere, police also fired on more than 1,000 demonstrators on Monday after protests erupted in Goma, the main city in eastern Congo.


Related articles


  1. DR Congo Citizens Head to Polls to Elect President, Members of Parliament (December 20, 2023)
  2. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  3. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  4. Martin Fayulu Challenges Presidential Election Results in Court (January 12, 2019)
  5. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  6. Martin Fayulu Rejects Presidential Election Results (January 10, 2019)
  7. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  8. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  9. Bemba, Katumbi renew their support for joint opposition presidential candidate Fayulu (November 16, 2018)
  10. Vital Kamerhe also withdraws support for joint opposition presidential bid (November 12, 2018)
  11. Felix Tshisekedi withdraws support for joint opposition presidential bid (November 12, 2018)
  12. Jean-Pierre Bemba banned from running for president (August 25, 2018)
  13. Vital Kamerhe named UNC presidential candidate (August 4, 2018)
  14. Bemba says Katumbi should be allowed to run for president (August 4, 2018)
  15. Moise Katumbi blocked from entering DR Congo (August 3, 2018)
  16. Jean-Pierre Bemba Returns to DR Congo (August 1, 2018)
  17. Jean-Pierre Bemba named MLC presidential candidate (July 13, 2018)
  18. At least 30 dead after massacres in Ituri (March 2, 2018)
  19. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  20. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  21. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  22. Presidential election scheduled for December 23, 2018 (November 5, 2017)
  23. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  24. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  25. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  26. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  27. DR Congo reach final of African Nations Championship (February 3, 2016)
  28. Political tensions 'running high' in DR Congo ahead of 2016 elections (October 7, 2015)
  29. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  30. Electoral commission sets DR Congo presidential election date (February 12, 2015)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.