Protesters gather in DRC capital as Joseph Kabila’s term expires at midnight
Kinshasa — Protesters gathered in Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) capital and at least one other city, defying a ban on demonstrations against the president’s plans to stay in office past the end of his term on Monday. Security forces blocked access to Kinshasa University, facing off against groups waving red cards telling President Joseph Kabila to go, as time ticked down to the official close of his mandate at midnight. Militia fighters raided a jail in eastern DRC’s Butembo trying to free prisoners, triggering clashes that killed a South African UN peacekeeper, a police officer and five attackers, officials said. "They (the militia) want to take advantage of the day," activist Fabrice Kakubuzi said, as authorities said they had fought off the assault. Opposition activists have accused Kabila of trying to cling to power by letting his term run out without an election in place to choose a successor. "Kabila’s mandate finishes at 11.59pm … tomorrow (Tuesday) it will be chaos,...
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