Police in DR Congo Disperse Election Protest with Tear Gas

Congo police fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse a protest by opposition supporters in Kinshasa calling for a re-run of the chaotic presidential and legislative elections.

The disputed vote threatens to further destabilize Congo, which is already grappling with a security crisis in the east that has hampered development in the world’s top producer of cobalt and other industrial minerals and metals.

Five of President Felix Tshisekedi’s challengers and civil society organizations called on their supporters to join a march against the poll, which they say was fraudulent and should be annulled. Interior Minister Peter Kazadi announced that the march would not be permitted, stating that it aimed to undermine the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the opposition maintained its slogan and called on the people of Kinshasa to gather near the People’s Palace to march to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission (CENI).

The outgoing head of state, Félix Tshisekedi, is in the lead with 79% of the votes. Tensions are feared when the winner of the presidential election is announced, in a country with a turbulent and often violent political history and a predominantly poor population.