ADVERTISEMENT

Four civilians, policeman killed in Goma clashes

The journalist said he saw the bodies of four civilians lying in blood in the Madjengon district of Goma, capital of the troubled North Kivu province, while the body of a policeman who had been hit with stones was on the ground in the neighbouring district of Mabanga.

Police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu said "a police officer was murdered by gunfire and lynching by demonstrators" and "a civilian died after being hit by stray rounds."

Two other police were seriously hurt by rocks, he said, adding that this was still a provisional toll.

General Placide Nyembo, police commander for North Kivu province, said 28 young people had been arrested, two of them women, and "will be held in order to establish charges against them."

ADVERTISEMENT

Several of them told AFP that they had been forcibly picked up in their neighbourhood or in the street, and had no idea why.

Nyembo also said 18 civilians and four police had been injured.

The protest was organised by an associations of civil society groups, including the pro-democracy Struggle for Change (Lucha).

"The resistance against the bloody and predatory regime of Kabila has well and truly begun," Lucha said on Twitter.

No demonstrations took place in DRC's capital of Kinshasa, and in the northeastern city of Kisangani, police dispersed a small number of demonstrators who tried to burn tyres to block the streets, an AFP reporter saw.

ADVERTISEMENT

At Mbandaka, in the northwest of the country, schools were closed and commercial life seemed muted.

Waiting for elections

Tensions are running high in the DRC after Kabila failed to step down on the expiry of his second and final term last December.

Elections were due to take place this year under a transitional deal aimed at avoiding bloodshed in a country beset by ethnic divisions and fighting in its east.

But the country's electoral commission says there will no vote before early 2019, mainly because of the problems of completing an electoral roll in the troubled central region of Kasai.

ADVERTISEMENT

Worried about a fresh outbreak of political violence, the international community has pressed for a vote to choose a new head of state to be held as soon as possible -- but no timetable has been set so far.

Kabila, who took over DRC on his father's assassination in 2001, won successive elections in 2006 and 2011.

He is constitutionally barred from running for a third term but in May 2016 the constitutional court declared he could remain head of state until his successor is elected.

During a visit to the country last week, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, called on the government to hold elections next year, rather than delay them until 2019, if it wanted to count on American backing.

In sharp-edged response to Haley, Lucha said the true goal should be to honour the December 31 2016 compromise that set down the transitional deal.

ADVERTISEMENT

"What we expect from your country is neither pity nor charity, but concrete actions based on your economic, diplomatic and political influence, to support the momentum of our people," Lucha said.

"It's not about elections for 2018. That must be clear for everyone. Elections in 2017 or a transition without Kabila," Fred Bauma, one of Lucha's leaders, said on his Twitter account.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Kaduna Gov grants scholarship to 137 rescued schoolchildren, son of late teacher

Kaduna Gov grants scholarship to 137 rescued schoolchildren, son of late teacher

Siamese twin gets married while still conjoined with her sister

Siamese twin gets married while still conjoined with her sister

LP BoT kicks out Abure despite convention victory, takes over party affairs

LP BoT kicks out Abure despite convention victory, takes over party affairs

6 Labour Party lawmakers defect to PDP in Enugu State

6 Labour Party lawmakers defect to PDP in Enugu State

Tinubu's special assistant donates food items to 1,700 residents in FCT

Tinubu's special assistant donates food items to 1,700 residents in FCT

Anambra PASAN begins strike over Soludo's failure to grant financial autonomy

Anambra PASAN begins strike over Soludo's failure to grant financial autonomy

Governor Sanwo-Olu pays ₦4.48 billion to 1,455 retirees in accrued pensions

Governor Sanwo-Olu pays ₦4.48 billion to 1,455 retirees in accrued pensions

Court discharges ex-AGF Adoke, 6 others in Malabu oil scam case

Court discharges ex-AGF Adoke, 6 others in Malabu oil scam case

Nigerians are expected to pay for TV licences — here’s what the law says

Nigerians are expected to pay for TV licences — here’s what the law says

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT