AFRICA/DR CONGO - Clashes between demonstrators and police in Kinshasa

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – There are ongoing clashes in Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, between police and demonstrators belonging to the "Rassemblement", a group of opposition parties that support the candidate Etienne Tshisekedi, in the presidential elections whose date has not yet been established.
Demonstrators launched slogans like "Kabila must go", "Kabila move out", referring to the end of the mandate of President Joseph Kabila, on 20 December. The fact that there is still no date for the presidential elections, in which Kabila cannot present himself after two terms, as established by the Constitution, is raising fears that outgoing President wants to remain in power even after December 20, based on a judgment of the Constitutional Court, which allows the President of the Republic to remain in office until the effective installation of the new elected President (see Fides 25/05/2016).
Opposition parties have suspended participation in the national dialogue promoted by Kabila to overcome the crisis. The Congolese National Episcopal Conference (CENCO) participates in the dialogue but stressed through its representative, Don Donatien Nshole, that "overshadowing the presidential election means subverting a fundamental article of the Constitution". Article 73 of the Constitution provides that the election of the new President should be carried out within 90 days of the end of the mandate of the outgoing Presidente. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/09/2016)

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