DRC rally over presidential term limits broken up after clashes
Police fired tear gas after rival groups fought at a Kinshasa rally opposing a bill critics say could let President Felix Tshisekedi stay in office.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo fired tear gas on Friday to disperse a rally outside parliament in Kinshasa after rival political groups clashed, AFP reported. The protest challenged a proposed legal change that opponents say could open a path for President Felix Tshisekedi to remain in power beyond the country’s two-term limit.
The demonstration was organised by C64, an opposition coalition formed to resist the proposed change, according to AFP. The agency reported that fighting broke out involving pro-government activists before police moved in.
Opposition leader Martin Fayulu was among those hurt, AFP reported, citing video that showed him with blood around his eyes and on his shirt as supporters helped him. AFP also reported that Prince Epenge, another opposition figure, suffered slight injuries.
The protest came as Tshisekedi faces growing opposition over the future of presidential term limits. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, Reuters and The Associated Press, reported that Tshisekedi’s second five-year term is scheduled to end in 2028.
Tshisekedi, 62, recently said he would accept leading the country for a third term “if the people wish it” after a referendum on constitutional reform, according to the same report. The statement has sharpened criticism from opponents who say the president is seeking to extend his rule.
Bill would affect term-limit provisions
The DRC constitution bars revisions to presidential term limits, Al Jazeera reported. A bill before the National Assembly would allow the president to amend those provisions if a “major dysfunction” paralyses state institutions, potentially after a referendum, according to the report.
The main opposition parties, which had been split in recent years, joined together in May under the C64 banner, AFP reported. The coalition has described the proposed changes as a serious threat to the country’s stability.
The confrontation added to pressure on a government already dealing with several crises. Al Jazeera reported that the DRC is facing a new Ebola outbreak, while conflict has escalated with the M23 rebel group in the east.
Al Jazeera has described M23 as Rwanda-backed, a claim that has been central to tensions around the conflict. The source report said the fighting with M23 is part of a decades-long conflict affecting the country.
Friday’s events showed how the constitutional debate has moved from parliament into the streets. The opposition has framed the proposal as an attempt to loosen limits on presidential power, while the bill’s wording would tie any change to an institutional breakdown, according to Al Jazeera’s account of the measure.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.