19 January 2015 DRC protests

2015 Congolese protests
Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in session on 22 January 2015.
Date19–25 January 2015
Location
Kinshasa, Bukavu,[1] Goma, Lubumbashi[2]
Caused by
  • legislation proposed that would allow the country's president, Joseph Kabila, to remain in power indefinitely until a national census was completed
Goals
  • Political reforms, mainly discontinuation of the president's term
Methods
Resulted in
  • Congolese Senate passed a law omitting controversial census clause, opposition called off further protests
Parties
  • Student protesters
  • General public protesters
Lead figures
Casualties
Death(s)27 (government claim[3]) – 42 deaths (Reuters claim)[4] 36 confirmed by Human Rights Watch[5]

On 19 January 2015, protests led by students at the University of Kinshasa broke out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The protests began following the announcement of a proposed law that would allow the country's 43-year-old president, Joseph Kabila, to remain in power until a national census could be conducted. Elections had been planned for 2016 and a census would be a massive undertaking that would likely take several years for the developing country.[6][7]

By 21 January, clashes between police and protesters had claimed at least 42 lives[6] (although the government claimed only 15 people had been killed, most by security guards while looting[citation needed]; the government later adjusted that figure to 27 killed[3]). As a result of the protests the government closed certain radio stations,[8] and cut all internet, SMS and 3G communication in the country on 20 January.[9]

Following a series of meetings between foreign diplomats and Congolese government officials, the Congolese Senate passed the law, omitting the controversial census clause, and the opposition called off further protests.[4]

  1. ^ "DR Congo: UN Mission deplores loss of life as police, protesters clash in capital". UN News Centre. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Respect de la Constitution : " KABILA " a la corde au cou". KongoTimes (in French). 21 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b Anti-government demos in DR Congo killed 27, By Afp, Published: 16:07 GMT, 5 February 2015, https://news.yahoo.com/anti-government-demos-dr-congo-killed-27-160351241.html
  4. ^ a b "Western diplomats pressure Congo's Kabila to end election law standoff". Reuters. 24 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015.
  5. ^ "DR Congo: Deadly Crackdown on Protests". Human Rights Watch. 24 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b Ross, Aaron (21 January 2015). "Update 2-Congo protests enter third day, rights group says 42 dead". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. ^ Jullien, Maud (21 January 2015). "DR Congo unrest: Catholic church backs protests". BBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Concerned About Increased Violence in Democratic Republic of the Congo". U.S. Department of State. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  9. ^ "RDC : deuxième jour de violences et de répression à Kinshasa" (in French). courrierinternational.com. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.