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Kinshasa police fire tear gas at the C64 march

Hundreds marched in Kinshasa on Tuesday against a constitutional change that critics say could let President Felix Tshisekedi seek a third term. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, said police fired tear gas and the opposition counted at least 10 arrests. Africanews, also citing AFP journalists, described clashes with pro-government activists and warning shots in other cities.

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Anonymous civilians move along a bright Kinshasa avenue as pale tear gas drifts across the front of a daytime march.

C64 called a nationwide day of action

The C64 coalition linked to former presidential candidates Martin Fayulu, Moise Katumbi and Delly Sesanga called a nationwide day of action. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, said police fired tear gas in Kinshasa and that protests in Lubumbashi and Uvira went ahead despite local bans and were broken up. Mohamed Eyenga of the Envol party said activists were arbitrarily arrested. Provincial police commander General Blaise Kilimbalimba said peaceful demonstrators had not been arrested. AFP journalists reported at least two people injured in Kinshasa. The constitution limits presidents to two five-year terms; Tshisekedi was elected in 2019 and 2023. Parliament, dominated by the ruling coalition, adopted a bill in June allowing constitutional changes to go to a referendum.[1]

AFP saw tear gas after the rally turned into a clash

Africanews, citing AFP journalists, says police fired tear gas on Tuesday after clashes between opposition supporters and pro-government activists during a Kinshasa rally against a proposed constitutional change. The C64 coalition called a nationwide day of action. Tensions ran high in other major cities, with police firing warning shots and making arrests to disperse protests. Opposition parties have joined against President Felix Tshisekedi's attempt to change the constitution so he can run for a third term.[2]

The same Kinshasa Tuesday is on both wires

Both write-ups put tear gas on the Tuesday C64 march in Kinshasa and the third-term fight. Al Jazeera counts the Lubumbashi and Uvira break-ups, the claim of at least 10 arrests and two injured; Africanews adds the clash with pro-government activists and warning shots in other cities. Sending the constitutional change to a referendum is the shared ground; the arrest count is still a party-versus-police split.[1], [2]

References

  1. News sourceAl JazeeraKinshasa police fire tear gas at C64 march↩1↩2
  2. News sourceAfricanewsKinshasa police fire tear gas as C64 clashes with pro-government activists↩1↩2
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