Tag Archives: U.N. protests

U.N. raps Congo after at least 50 killed in protests

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein attends the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council at the U.N. European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland,

GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. human rights chief accused Congolese authorities on Thursday of taking an “extremely confrontational position” towards anti-government protesters and urged them to seek dialogue with the opposition.

Democratic Republic of Congo has for months suffered simmering anger over what opponents of President Joseph Kabila believe are his efforts to hold on to power beyond his constitutional term limit, either by delaying elections or revising the constitution, as other African leaders have done.

U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein said the death toll from clashes between protesters and security forces on Monday in the Congolese capital Kinshasa had risen to at least 50. The government has put the death toll at 32.

A woman cries for her husband in front of a UDPS office in Kinshasa

A Congolese woman cries for her husband, who according to witnesses was killed when security forces burned down the headquarters of the main opposition party Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), in front of a UDPS office in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

 

“The writing is on the wall and the authorities need to pull back from their extremely confrontational position and build bridges with the opposition,” Zeid said in a statement.

“Some civilians were killed by gunshots to the head or chest and I strongly condemn the clearly excessive use of force by defense and security forces against demonstrators in the capital,” he said.

Congo’s attorney general vowed on Wednesday to hunt down and punish those responsible for Monday’s riots.

The electoral commission has said that polls that were supposed to happen in November will now not go ahead until at least next year, increasing concerns that Kabila plans to hold on to power beyond his constitutional mandate.

Kabila’s office, in a statement on Wednesday, called for calm and invited “the entire population to go about their daily activities now that security is again fully ensured”.

World powers, especially the United States, have heaped pressure on Kabila to respect the constitution and hold elections on time. They are also growing increasingly concerned over what they say are efforts to stifle peaceful protest.

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Gareth Jones)