At least 17 people have been killed during clashes between police and anti-government protesters in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. “I also call on all concerned political leaders and their supporters to desist from undertaking any further acts that could continue to exacerbate the situation and heighten tensions”, said Special Representative of the Secretary General Maman Sambo Sidikou.
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Interior Minister Evariste Boshab described the violence as an attempted “uprising” and said the victims included three police officers. The opposition asserts that Kabila simply wants to stay in power. He took power in 2001 after his father was assassinated and has since won two elections.
The protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo started on Monday after the election commission chose to try to postpone the next presidential vote, due in November.
It imposed targeted sanctions on a Kinshasa police chief in June.
The attacks followed Monday’s deadly clashes between police and opposition supporters demanding that President Joseph Kabila step down by December.
Two charred bodies could be seen inside the offices of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in Kinshasa on Tuesday, next to empty petrol cans strewn across the floor, a Reuters witness said. The electoral commission has filed for a delay in elections that were scheduled for November, saying voter registration lists will not be ready.
However, Kabila’s ruling party has been working on negotiations to install an interim government that includes opposition leaders while allowing Kabila to temporarily remain president.
The U.N. human rights office noted reports of “excessive use of force” by both security forces and demonstrators.
The president of opposition party Reformist Forces for Union and Solidarity (FONUS) Joseph Olenga Nkoy said 53 people were killed in the clashes while a local rights official said 25 protesters were shot.
A smaller Congolese opposition group has been meeting with the government in an attempt to organize a schedule for elections, but the main opposition has refused to participate in the talks.
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It was the worst violence in the capital since January 2015, when security forces cracked down on rioters after another opposition demonstration spiralled out of control, in violence which left several dozen people dead. Kabila is barred constitutionally from running for a third term and his allies say he will respect the constitution.
