| 2015 Congolese protests | |||
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 Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in session on 22 January 2015. | |||
| Date | 19–25 January 2015 | ||
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| Death | 27 (government claim[3]) – 42 deaths (Reuters claim)[4] 36 confirmed byHuman Rights Watch[5] | ||
On 19 January 2015, protests led by students at theUniversity of Kinshasa broke out in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo. The protests began following the announcement of a proposed law that would allow the country's 43-year-old president,Joseph Kabila, to remain in power until a national census could be conducted. Elections had been planned for2016 and a census would be a massive undertaking that would likely take several years for the developing country.[6][7]
By 21 January, clashes between police and protesters had claimed at least 42 lives[6] (although the government claimed only 15 people had been killed, most by security guards while looting[citation needed]; the government later adjusted that figure to 27 killed[3]). As a result of the protests the government closed certain radio stations,[8] and cut all internet, SMS and 3G communication in the country on 20 January.[9]
Following a series of meetings between foreign diplomats and Congolese government officials, the Congolese Senate passed the law, omitting the controversial census clause, and the opposition called off further protests.[4]
On 17 January 2015, the CongoleseNational Assembly (the country's lower house) voted to revise the electoral law in the country's constitution. The new law would require that a national census be conducted prior to any upcoming elections, which, according to theGuardian newspaper, "could delay the general election, due to take place [in] 2016."[10] On 19 January, following a call from opposition parties, protesters gathered in front of thePalais du Peuple and were subsequently attacked with tear gas and live ammunition by government security forces.[1] Protests also took place in the capitals of the country's historically unstable eastern provinces ofNorth andSouth Kivu.[1]
On 20 January, Internet, SMS and 3G communications in the country were cut-off.[9] On 21 January, theCongolese Catholic Church's Archbishop, CardinalLaurent Monsengwo stated "We denounce these actions which have caused death and we are launching this plea: stop killing your people,...[and call on the people to use] all legal and peaceful [means to oppose the law change]."[11] The Roman Catholic Church counts around half of the country's population amongst its congregants.[7] The same day, American, British, French and Belgian diplomats met with the Congolese Senate President,Léon Kengo, and urged him either to suspend debate and voting on the modifying law or to remove the controversial provisions.[12]
On 24 January, diplomats from Belgium, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, and the United States met privately with President Kabila at his home in Kinshasa.[4]
On 25 January, the Congolese Senate removed the controversial provision from the proposed law and passed it, leading the opposition to call off plans for protests on the next day.[13] President Kabila has until 24 February to sign the bill into law.[13]
Around 50Chinese national-run businesses in the Kinshasa neighborhoods ofNgaba andKalamu were targeted by looters.[14] AnAgence France-Presse article reported that the attacks were motivated by local businesses' resentment of the low prices of Chinese run stores and the rioters' association of Chinese-run stores with the government's Chinese investment deals which have become a centerpiece of the country's economic policy.[14]
On 19 January,Martin Kobler, the head ofMONUSCO, criticized the deaths and injuries during protests as "a result of violent demonstrations and the ensuing use of lethal force by the security force." He further said, "The use of force by law enforcement officers must always be necessary, proportionate, and a measure of last resort."[1] On 20 January, the American government expressed concern about the situation in the country, the loss of life and the ongoing violence. The U.S. called for "timely elections [...] in accordance with the Constitution."[8]
On March 15 at least 26 activists, journalists, diplomats and civilians were arrested in Kinshasa while attending a workshop on freedom of expression. Those arrested included journalists from theBBC,AFP,RTBF, and the Senegalese youth-groupY'en a Marre.[15] They were beaten by Congolese security forces, arrested and taken to be interrogated by members of Congo'sNational Intelligence Agency[16]
On March 17 at least 10 people were arrested and beaten inGoma for protesting the earlier arrests in Kinshasa.[16]
