10 April 2017•Update: 10 April 2017
By Godfrey Olukya
ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo
Congolese police have told opposition activists street protests over the country’s new prime minister will not be tolerated.
An opposition coalition in the Democratic Republic of Congo has called on citizens to take part in nationwide demonstrations after President Joseph Kabila controversially appointed Bruno Tshibala Nzenze as DRC premier on Friday.
Police spokesman Mwana Mputu on Monday issued a statement saying the security forces would not permit unauthorized gatherings.
National police spokesman Col. Pierrot Mwanamputu also said officers would prevent public demonstrations of a political nature throughout the country.
“The police have put in place reinforcements in various hotpots and strategic sites to discourage criminal acts,” he added.
Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi said President Kabila had failed to respect the spirit and letter of a Dec. 31 agreement -- promising fresh elections by end-2017 -- by appointing Tshibala as prime minister.
Tshibala is a former secretary-general of the opposition UDPS which is currently led by Tshisekedi.
Tshisekedi said Kabila had unilaterally avoided a clause in the December pact that the prime minister would belong to the opposition.
Tshisekedi had been chosen as the opposition's choice for premier, leading to outrage when Kabila instead chose Tshibala.
The DRC has experienced unrest since late last year when Kabila refused to step down after his term of office expired on Dec. 16.
