This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/27/congolese-soldiers-fire-air-quell-protests-against-election-delay

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Congolese soldiers fire in air to quell protests against election delay DRC troops fire teargas to quell protests about election delay
(35 minutes later)
Security forces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have fired live rounds and teargas to disperse demonstrators who burned tires and allegedly attacked Ebola centres in a protest against a decision to exclude them from the presidential election. Security forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have fired live rounds and teargas to disperse demonstrators who burned tires and allegedly attacked Ebola centres in a protest against a decision to exclude them from the presidential election.
The electoral commission (CENI) announced on Wednesday it was cancelling voting in Sunday’s election in the cities of Beni and Butembo and their surrounding areas because of an ongoing Ebola outbreak and militia violence. The electoral commission (CENI) announced on Wednesday that it was cancelling voting in the election on Sunday in the eastern cities of Beni and Butembo, and their surrounding areas, because of a continuing Ebola outbreak and militia violence.
The areas are strongholds of opposition to the outgoing president, Joseph Kabila, and local politicians denounced the move as an effort to swing the vote in favour of his preferred candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.The areas are strongholds of opposition to the outgoing president, Joseph Kabila, and local politicians denounced the move as an effort to swing the vote in favour of his preferred candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.
“There was a group of demonstrators who wanted to enter the CENI office ... to demand the withdrawal of the decision,” said Giscard Yere, a Beni resident. “But the police officers and soldiers who were there fired to disperse the demonstrators.” Giscard Yere, a Beni resident, said: “There was a group of demonstrators who wanted to enter the CENI office … to demand the withdrawal of the decision. But the police officers and soldiers who were there fired to disperse the demonstrators.”
Protesters ransacked an Ebola isolation centre in Beni and it is possible that patients fled, Aruna Abedi, the deputy director of the Ebola response, told Reuters. Protesters ransacked an Ebola isolation centre in Beni and it is possible patients fled, said Aruna Abedi, the deputy director of the Ebola response.
They also attacked the office of the government agency coordinating the response in Beni before UN peacekeepers pushed them back, Abedi said. “Protesters tried to force the door of the centre,” Abedi told Reuters. “They were chanting songs hostile to the government and demanding elections. They threw projectiles.” They also attacked the office of the government agency coordinating the response in Beni before UN peacekeepers pushed them back, Abedi added. “Protesters tried to force the door of the centre,” he said. “They were chanting songs hostile to the government and demanding elections. They threw projectiles.”
Col Safari Kazingufu, the police commander in Beni, said his forces had deployed across the city to restore order, including around Ebola treatment centres.Col Safari Kazingufu, the police commander in Beni, said his forces had deployed across the city to restore order, including around Ebola treatment centres.
Beni, Butembo and the rural areas around them have been dealing with an Ebola outbreak – now the second deadliest in history – since August, but health authorities had repeatedly said it would not prevent the vote from going ahead. Beni, Butembo and the rural areas around them have been dealing with an Ebola outbreak – now the second-deadliest on record – since August, but health authorities had repeatedly said it would not prevent the vote from going ahead.
The CENI also cancelled the vote in the western city of Yumbi because ethnic violence there last week killed more than 100 people. The CENI also cancelled the vote in the western city of Yumbi because of ethnic violence there last week that killed more than 100 people.
The election to replace Kabila, who has governed since replacing his assassinated father in 2001, was scheduled to take place in 2016 but has been repeatedly delayed.The election to replace Kabila, who has governed since replacing his assassinated father in 2001, was scheduled to take place in 2016 but has been repeatedly delayed.
That has triggered violent protests in which security forces killed dozens of people. It has also stoked militia violence in Congo’s eastern borderlands with Rwanda and Uganda as armed groups moved to exploit a perceived power vacuum. The delay triggered violent protests in which security forces killed dozens of people. It also stoked militia violence in DRC’s eastern borderlands with Rwanda and Uganda, as armed groups moved to exploit a perceived power vacuum.
Shadary is facing two main challengers in a field of 21 candidates: Félix Tshisekedi, the president of Congo’s largest opposition party, and Martin Fayulu, a former Exxon Mobil manager and national lawmaker. Shadary is facing two main challengers in a field of 21 candidates: Félix Tshisekedi, the president of DRC’s largest opposition party, and Martin Fayulu, a former ExxonMobil manager and national lawmaker.
Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Protest
AfricaAfrica
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content