Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo fired tear gas on Tuesday to disperse hundreds of people protesting against proposed constitutional changes that opponents believe could allow President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term in office.
The opposition coalition C64 organized demonstrations in the capital, Kinshasa, and several other cities, including Lubumbashi and Kindu in eastern Congo. These protests proceeded despite restrictions on mass gatherings implemented due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The demonstration in Kinshasa, which began peacefully with hundreds of attendees, was broken up by police using tear gas and warning shots after clashes erupted between protesters and pro-government supporters.
Opposition leader Martin Fayulu stated, “The Congolese state is working with a political party militia. God is great; I made it out alive. There was a massacre, and the police were firing at us.”
Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya condemned the opposition, alleging they disrupted activities by falsely claiming schools would be closed on Tuesday. "The right to protest is recognized in the Constitution, but it must be exercised properly," Muyaya said.
Police previously dispersed a rally organized by C64 in Kinshasa in June against similar constitutional changes, an event where several individuals, including Fayulu, were reportedly injured.
President Tshisekedi, 62, has been in office since 2019 and is scheduled to complete his second five-year term in 2028. He has previously indicated a willingness to pursue a third term if approved by voters in a referendum.
The Congolese Constitution prohibits any revision of presidential term limits. However, a bill currently under consideration in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament, could enable the president to amend these provisions in cases of a "major dysfunction" that paralyzes state institutions, potentially following a referendum.
Congo is currently contending with multiple crises, including an Ebola outbreak and an escalation of the decades-long conflict with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Over 100 armed groups are active in the eastern provinces vying for control.
In May, the country's main opposition parties, who had been divided in recent years, unified under the banner of C64, or Coalition Article 64, to oppose what they characterize as an attempt by Tshisekedi to extend his tenure. The coalition has described the proposed changes as a "serious threat" to the nation's stability.