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| DR Congo election: Protesters attack Ebola centre in Beni | DR Congo election: Protesters attack Ebola centre in Beni |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Protesters angry with the postponement of Sunday's presidential election in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo have attacked a clinic where possible Ebola cases are assessed. | Protesters angry with the postponement of Sunday's presidential election in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo have attacked a clinic where possible Ebola cases are assessed. |
| The attack happened in the eastern city of Beni, one of three opposition areas where the vote has been postponed. | The attack happened in the eastern city of Beni, one of three opposition areas where the vote has been postponed. |
| The electoral commission has cited the current Ebola outbreak as one of the reasons behind the postponement. | The electoral commission has cited the current Ebola outbreak as one of the reasons behind the postponement. |
| But opposition parties have accused the authorities of seeking to rig the vote. | But opposition parties have accused the authorities of seeking to rig the vote. |
| Along with Beni, voting has been postponed until March in Butembo, also in the east and in Yumbi, which is in the west. | Along with Beni, voting has been postponed until March in Butembo, also in the east and in Yumbi, which is in the west. |
| With President Joseph Kabila's successor due to be sworn in next month, it appears the votes of more than a million people could be discounted. | With President Joseph Kabila's successor due to be sworn in next month, it appears the votes of more than a million people could be discounted. |
| DR Congo has not had a peaceful and democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. | DR Congo has not had a peaceful and democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. |
| Mr Kabila, who has been in office since 2001, was meant to have stepped down in 2016. | Mr Kabila, who has been in office since 2001, was meant to have stepped down in 2016. |
| However, the election to choose his successor has been continually postponed, amid unrest and logistical difficulties in a nation with poor infrastructure. | However, the election to choose his successor has been continually postponed, amid unrest and logistical difficulties in a nation with poor infrastructure. |
| Opposition supporters suspect Mr Kabila is trying to cling on to power. He denies the allegation and is backing former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary in the election. | Opposition supporters suspect Mr Kabila is trying to cling on to power. He denies the allegation and is backing former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary in the election. |
| Meanwhile, the country's foreign ministry has unexpectedly announced the expulsion of European Union ambassador Bart Ouvry, saying he has 48 hours to leave. | |
| For weeks the government has been criticising the EU's decision to renew sanctions against Congolese officials, saying these are interfering with the electoral process in the country. | |
| One of those affected by the sanctions, former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, is now running for president. He was first sanctioned in 2017 for human rights violations. | |
| What happened at the Ebola centre? | What happened at the Ebola centre? |
| Some people inside the Ebola assessment centre fled after it was attacked, a witness told the BBC. | Some people inside the Ebola assessment centre fled after it was attacked, a witness told the BBC. |
| The police then arrived and fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd, the witness added. | The police then arrived and fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd, the witness added. |
| During the attack, some tents were burnt down and tables and chairs were stolen, health ministry spokeswoman Jessica llunga told the BBC. | During the attack, some tents were burnt down and tables and chairs were stolen, health ministry spokeswoman Jessica llunga told the BBC. |
| Of the 21 who fled the centre, 17 had tested negative for Ebola once and were doing a second test while four others were doing a test for the first time, she added. | Of the 21 who fled the centre, 17 had tested negative for Ebola once and were doing a second test while four others were doing a test for the first time, she added. |
| Beni has been badly hit by the Ebola outbreak in the east of the country, which has killed more than 300 people since August. | Beni has been badly hit by the Ebola outbreak in the east of the country, which has killed more than 300 people since August. |
| In Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo and also an opposition stronghold, crowds blocked a road in the Majengo neighbourhood and around the university, the BBC's Gaius Kowene reports from the scene. | In Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo and also an opposition stronghold, crowds blocked a road in the Majengo neighbourhood and around the university, the BBC's Gaius Kowene reports from the scene. |
| Anti-riot police were positioned at some street corners in Majengo, and protesters retreated after tear gas was fired, he adds. | Anti-riot police were positioned at some street corners in Majengo, and protesters retreated after tear gas was fired, he adds. |
| There were also protests in Butembo. No demonstrations have been reported in Yumbi. | There were also protests in Butembo. No demonstrations have been reported in Yumbi. |
| Is it legal to delay voting in some areas? | Is it legal to delay voting in some areas? |
| By Louise Dewast, BBC Africa, Kinshasa | By Louise Dewast, BBC Africa, Kinshasa |
| The electoral commission said it consulted "relevant parties" before taking the decision, but declined to give details. | The electoral commission said it consulted "relevant parties" before taking the decision, but declined to give details. |
| Constitutional expert Tresor Makunya told the BBC that only the Constitutional Court - not the electoral commission - can impose limitations on the right to vote. | Constitutional expert Tresor Makunya told the BBC that only the Constitutional Court - not the electoral commission - can impose limitations on the right to vote. |
| The postponement of the election in key constituencies will impact on its credibility, he added. | The postponement of the election in key constituencies will impact on its credibility, he added. |
| No opposition party has as yet challenged the decision in court, either because they have little trust in the legal process or because they fear it could lead jeopardise the entire poll. | No opposition party has as yet challenged the decision in court, either because they have little trust in the legal process or because they fear it could lead jeopardise the entire poll. |
| In DR Congo, only presidential candidates can challenge the results of an election in court. Some, like Jacques Ndjoli, a constitutional law professor and an opposition lawmaker, said it would be pointless to do that. | In DR Congo, only presidential candidates can challenge the results of an election in court. Some, like Jacques Ndjoli, a constitutional law professor and an opposition lawmaker, said it would be pointless to do that. |
| "The court has never issued a ruling that goes against the interest of those in power. I don't see why civil society or opposition parties would go and bring a challenge to the Constitutional Court considering the judges are allies of Mr Kabila," he added. | "The court has never issued a ruling that goes against the interest of those in power. I don't see why civil society or opposition parties would go and bring a challenge to the Constitutional Court considering the judges are allies of Mr Kabila," he added. |
| So why has voting been delayed in the three areas? | So why has voting been delayed in the three areas? |
| In Yumbi, at least 80 people were killed earlier this month and thousands have fled to neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville amid violence triggered by a dispute over where to bury a traditional chief. | In Yumbi, at least 80 people were killed earlier this month and thousands have fled to neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville amid violence triggered by a dispute over where to bury a traditional chief. |
| While Beni has been affected by the Ebola outbreak, nearby Butembo has seen attacks on civilians attributed to a Ugandan Islamist militia, the Allied Democratic Forces. | While Beni has been affected by the Ebola outbreak, nearby Butembo has seen attacks on civilians attributed to a Ugandan Islamist militia, the Allied Democratic Forces. |
| Opposition supporters accused the government of attempting to disenfranchise them, and have vowed to continue with protests to force the electoral commission to reverse its decision. | Opposition supporters accused the government of attempting to disenfranchise them, and have vowed to continue with protests to force the electoral commission to reverse its decision. |
| Moise Katumbi, an exile who is supporting opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, said the postponement was "unjustifiable" and showed that "the regime wants to be in power forever to continue its pillage". | Moise Katumbi, an exile who is supporting opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, said the postponement was "unjustifiable" and showed that "the regime wants to be in power forever to continue its pillage". |
| What other issues have there been? | What other issues have there been? |
| On 21 December, the electoral commission said the vote was being delayed by another week, after admitting that it was not ready. The decision was condemned by opposition politicians. | On 21 December, the electoral commission said the vote was being delayed by another week, after admitting that it was not ready. The decision was condemned by opposition politicians. |
| A delay in delivering voting materials to polling sites after a fire was behind the postponement, officials said. | A delay in delivering voting materials to polling sites after a fire was behind the postponement, officials said. |
| The blaze destroyed more than two-thirds of the electronic voting machines allocated for the capital Kinshasa, where four million people live, an official said. | The blaze destroyed more than two-thirds of the electronic voting machines allocated for the capital Kinshasa, where four million people live, an official said. |
| About 40 million people have registered to vote in an election which is expected to be a tight race between Mr Shardary, Mr Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi, the son of the late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. | About 40 million people have registered to vote in an election which is expected to be a tight race between Mr Shardary, Mr Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi, the son of the late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. |
| Meanwhile the government accused Mr Fayulu of instigating election violence. Mr Fayulu's campaign has rejected the charge. | Meanwhile the government accused Mr Fayulu of instigating election violence. Mr Fayulu's campaign has rejected the charge. |
| What has been the international reaction? | What has been the international reaction? |
| Representatives of eight African states agreed at a meeting on Wednesday to send a delegation to DR Congo to raise their concerns about the poll with Mr Kabila. | Representatives of eight African states agreed at a meeting on Wednesday to send a delegation to DR Congo to raise their concerns about the poll with Mr Kabila. |
| In a statement after a meeting in neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville, the representatives said there was "strong concern over acts of violence" during the presidential campaign, AFP news agency reports. | In a statement after a meeting in neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville, the representatives said there was "strong concern over acts of violence" during the presidential campaign, AFP news agency reports. |
| Angola, Botswana, Congo-Brazzaville, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia were represented at the meeting. | Angola, Botswana, Congo-Brazzaville, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia were represented at the meeting. |