Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
Riot Police Break Up Congo Poll Protest

VOA News - July 11, 2006

Congolese protester Samba Patou is carried to a hospital by other protesters after being beaten by police during a demonstration in Kinshasa, July 11, 2006
Congolese protester Samba Patou is carried to a hospital by other protesters after being beaten by police during a demonstration in Kinshasa, July 11, 2006
Riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades to break up a protest in the middle of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital.  The demonstration had been called by more than half of the 33 presidential candidates for the upcoming July 30 elections.

The candidates issued leaflets saying the printing of millions of excess ballot papers was an attempt to rig the election and they should be destroyed to ensure a transparent poll.

Demonstrators chanted insults about incumbent President Joseph Kabila as well as the international community, which is supporting Congo's peace process. Many Congolese accuse the international community of having already decided that Mr. Kabila should remain in charge.

The trouble began with several hours of cat and mouse skirmishes, during which protesters tried to gather on Kinshasa's main boulevard and were chased away by riot police.

But after hundreds of protesters managed to link up and bring the middle of the city to a standstill, Congolese riot police weighed in, firing tear gas and stun grenades before chasing demonstrators down side streets.

About 10 demonstrators were injured when police beat them with batons. Several others, including a journalist covering the demonstrations, were knocked unconscious by the stun grenades and tear gas.

There were also unconfirmed reports of one death. But the police denied this, saying only that 10 officers had been injured by protesters throwing stones.

The demonstration is the second in two weeks and highlights the escalating tensions before an election that has been described as the most complicated the United Nations has been involved with.

The July 30 elections are meant to draw a line under a decade of war and chaos, but fighting continues in the east where rebel groups still operate and thousands of civilians continue to die every month, mostly from war related hunger and disease.


Related articles


  1. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  2. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  4. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  5. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  6. Jean-Pierre Bemba Returns to DR Congo (August 1, 2018)
  7. At least 30 dead after massacres in Ituri (March 2, 2018)
  8. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  9. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  10. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  11. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  12. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  13. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  14. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  15. DR Congo reach final of African Nations Championship (February 3, 2016)
  16. Political tensions 'running high' in DR Congo ahead of 2016 elections (October 7, 2015)
  17. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  18. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  19. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  20. 15 dead in football match stampede in Kinshasa (May 12, 2014)
  21. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  22. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  23. Security Council extends UN mission, intervention force in DR Congo for one year (March 28, 2014)
  24. Death toll in Lake Albert boat accident rises to 108 people (March 24, 2014)
  25. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  26. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
  27. Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
  28. M23 Rebels Kill, Rape Civilians in Eastern Congo: Human Rights Watch (July 22, 2013)
  29. DR Congo Eases Process for Starting a New Business (June 3, 2013)
  30. Regional Leaders Sign DR Congo Peace Deal (February 24, 2013)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.