Congo: Coalition Talks Failure Sparks Protests, Riots

Thousands of people took to the streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo Tuesday following the collapse of talks over a transition to a new government.



There was sporadic shooting in the capital Kinshasa at the headquarters of the main opposition political party UDPS.



"Young people demonstrating with sticks in hand were dispersed by the police. At 10th Street, demonstrators were handing out sticks to passers-by," said police spokesman Col. Pierrot Mwanamputu in a statement.



Speaking to Anadolu Agency, intelligence police officer Lt. Nelson Mwana Mbule estimated that some 10,000 people were demonstrating.



He added that in the suburbs of Lemba, Ngaba and Kalamu in the Yolo district, students were sent home, while in the suburbs of Gombe and Barumbu, young people who were burning tires were dispersed by the police.



"Many young people went wild and barricaded roads with burning tires. Police came in very fast and cleared the barricades," he said.



The demonstrations and riots come from frustration over the failure of a government/opposition coalition to come to an agreement over transitioning from President Joseph Kabila to a new government. The sides' failure to sign the December 2016 implementation agreement last night sparked off the riots.



The Catholic Bishops who were mediating the talks said they had pulled out because the two sides had failed to agree.



While the opposition said it has unanimously agreed that Felix Thisekedi should become prime minister, Kabila's side insists that they should suggest three names from which the president will appoint one.



Kabila's term in office expired last December, but he did not relinquish power, saying the electoral commission was not ready to hold elections, which prompted the current transition talks. -