The protest attended by thousands came amid growing local and global pressure on Kabila to step down when his mandate legally ends in December. In recent days, the ruling party has floated the idea of a unity government with opposition members until the next elections, though the proposal would keep Kabila in charge during that period.
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Congo, Africa’s top copper producer, has never had a peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.
Monday’s violence started just before an opposition rally by demonstrators who fear Kabila – who has ruled the DRC since 2001 – is planning to extend his rule unconstitutionally.
The party is one of the main political groupings calling for Kabila to step down when his term expires in December.
As political violence continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, three opposition parties have had their headquarters torched.
The protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo started on Monday after the election commission made a decision to try to postpone the next presidential vote, due in November.
The contract BGR signed with the Congolese government was signed on September 2 and is worth $875,000 through January 2017.
Adding to the mix of disapproval, Congo’s influential Roman Catholic Church suspended its participation in talks over the timetable for the next elections and stressed that Kabila should not be a candidate when they are held.
“The delay will necessarily be for some months. It is something we’re exploring and looking at”, the official said. “But please allow me to be clear: The postponement is not indefinite”.
He said that the Congolese government would be expanding voter rolls, providing security and seeking financing for the electoral process to come.
HRW said for the sanctions to have the greatest impact, the U.S. should expand its list and the European Union and United Nations should implement their own sanctions.
With a tense environment inside the country, relations between the United States and Congo have become strained.
While the ruling party has held talks as part of a national dialogue, numerous top opposition figures have not taken part.
Fire was still raging at the building where a tearful woman in her 40s said that her husband had been there when unidentified assailants attacked the building.
It is not the first time the government of Joseph Kabila has been involved in violence against protesters.
“We’re ready to consider targeted sanctions under those circumstances”.
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Opposition leaders say police intimidated their supporters, dispersing them as they gathered and blocking their approach to the central meeting place.
