Police crack down on protests against constitutional change in DR Congo
Demonstrations held across country against president's proposed constitutional changes seeking third term.
Protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have spurned violent clashes as police cracked down.
Police fired tear gas as hundreds of people protested in the capital Kinshasa on Tuesday against proposed constitutional changes that critics worry could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term in power. The political unrest adds to DRC’s struggles as it faces a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak and ongoing conflict in the east of the country.
At least 10 people were arrested during the confrontations, with demonstrations also taking place in the cities of Lubumbashi – a major mining centre in the southeast of the country – and Uvira, despite restrictions imposed by authorities.
DRC’s parliament adopted a bill in June allowing constitutional changes to be put to a referendum, and members of Tshisekedi’s coalition have backed changes that would allow him to remain in office.