Political standoff over Kabila's rule risks further unrest in D.R. Congo

While most of the world ushered in 2018 with celebrations, the new year in the Democratic Republic of Congo was less cheerful as violent protests broke out over the 17-year rule of President Joseph Kabila. This has caused a Political standoff over Kabila´s rule and further unrest in D.R Congo. Further, tension has been on the rise as Kabila was supposed to step down at the end of his term in late 2016. Already facing a precarious security situation due to conflict with various rebel groups, the ongoing political uncertainty could only mean more bad news not only for Kabila’s government but also its people.

The current stalemate can be traced back to December 2016 when Kabila did not step down as required by the constitution upon the end of his term. He instead delayed the elections numerous times through various tactics with latest announcements indicated that they will be held by end of 2018. His continuous delay tactics have put him at odds with many quarters including the Catholic church that feared the country might be slipping back into a dictatorship. While the opposition remained fractured and significantly weakened, most of the country’s citizens heeded the call by the church and took to the streets to express their anger over his rule.

Since September 2017, protests that sometimes turned deadly have occurred in the country on a regular basis. Major cities such as Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Goma, Beni and Mbuji Mayi have all experienced clashes as pro-government forces used heavy-handed tactics against the protesters. The situation reached a climax on the eve of the New Year when a major protest was held in Kinshasa, followed by other cities later. The subsequent days were marked by chaos as communication lines including the internet was being restricted. At least seven deaths were also reported as security forces cracked down on the protesters.

During this period, Safeture continued to provide updates for its users with at least four alerts being sent between the 29 December-2 January period. Its users were also warned in advance of the likelihood of the protests turning deadly, based on past experience. Exact cities of the protests were also being highlighted in these alerts so that users can know the areas to avoid in order to stay safe. As of now, the Safeture’s country profile section also maintains an “elevated risk” awareness level for D.R. Congo and urged its users to avoid all non-essential travelling to the country where possible.

The ongoing political unrest is just one of the many problems facing the D.R. Congo as rebel groups such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) remain active in parts of the country, particularly the east, launching attacks against government troops as well as United Nations-backed peacekeepers. Kabila has indicated that he is willing to relinquish power by naming a successor in July, it will just be a small step albeit significant in the country’s long road for peace and stability.

*See the GWS Timeline report of events on our website here