Why is DR Congo outlawing protests?

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo plans to prohibit opposition protests scheduled for the next days in response to the recent tumultuous national election.

The arguments

General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on December 20. Simultaneous elections were held for the President, almost all of the members of the National Assembly, almost all of the elected members of the 26 provincial assemblies, and, for the first time under the new constitution, members of a limited number of commune (municipal) councils. On election day, the Congolese government extended voting to December 21 for polling stations which had not opened on December 20.

Preliminary results indicate that President Felix Tshisekedi is leading in the presidential polls.

He was followed by businessman and former governor of Katanga Moise Katumbi (15.18%) and the other opponent Martin Fayulu (1.2%). The other candidates in the running, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, failed to reach 1%.

The electoral process itself, following a violent campaign, was marred by challenges such as delayed deliveries of election materials, malfunctioning equipment, and disorganized voter registers. The decision by the CENI to prolong voting at stations that failed to open on election day was met with rejection from protest organizers. They not only rejected the extension but also called for a complete re-run of the vote. Some independent observers echoed concerns that the extension compromised the election’s credibility.

The CENI has brushed aside these concerns and commenced releasing results over the weekend, with 80% of approximately 2.8 million votes counted thus far. However, the commission has not disclosed the voter turnout among the approximately 44 million registered voters, leaving the total number of votes cast unclear.

The facts

The opposition started demonstrations in the capital, Kinshasa, as they say the elections were rigged. The protests were organized by five opposition presidential candidates who allege election irregularities. Adding to the dissent, presidential candidate Moise Katumbi has joined the protest organizers in expressing apprehensions and has urged the head of the CENI to resign.

The government announced its intention to ban further events, arguing that they lack a legal basis and were designed to undermine the ongoing electoral process, with the CENI still in the process of compiling results. Vice Prime Minister Peter Kazadi stated at a press conference, “No government in the world can accept this, so we will not let it happen.”

Several people were wounded in the capital on Wednesday as riot police forcibly dispersed one of the banned protests. Police deployed tear gas and engaged in rock-throwing clashes with individuals outside a CENI, where they gathered. The opposition accused the security forces of employing excessive force and claimed that 11 people sustained injuries.

Efforts to assemble elsewhere in the city were swiftly disrupted due to the robust security presence. Some protesters attempted to block roads with burning tires before encountering intervention from the police.

Disputes arising from elections frequently contribute to unrest in Congo, posing a potential threat to further destabilize Africa’s second-largest country. Despite being a significant producer of cobalt and copper, Congo grapples with poverty and insecurity, particularly in its eastern region.