Democratic Republic of Congo: a timeline of a deadly political crisis
Tension has intensified in the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of the constitutional end of President Joseph Kabila’s second and final term on Tuesday. No elections have been organised and the opposition accuses him of seeking to retain power. Here is a timeline of the crisis in the vast country of 70-million people: • On January 17 2015, parliament adopts a bill that will enable Kabila, who has been in power for 14 years, to extend his term beyond 2016. Kabila’s opponents believe he wants to prolong his mandate by making the presidential and parliamentary elections contingent on a new electoral roll, after a census that was set to begin in 2015 but has yet to take place. • From January 19-22 clashes between police and anti-Kabila demonstrators erupt in Kinshasa and several other towns. They degenerate into riots and looting, with police using live fire and teargas. Dozens of people are killed. Speaking from Belgium, opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi calls on the Congolese peo...
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