Growing Violence In Congo Over The President's Decision To Stay In Power



Washington Post: Up to 20 dead in clashes in Congo over president’s decision to stay in power

KINSHASA, Congo — Security forces clashed with protesters in the capital of the Congo on Tuesday, leaving up to 20 people dead, as a political crisis escalated over the president’s refusal to step down at the end of his formal term.

The demonstrations were scattered across Kinshasa, a sprawling city of 12 million, and quickly put down by heavily armed soldiers and police. Young men set tires aflame and threw rocks at police, who responded with tear gas. There were few details about the killings, but some hospitals in the city reported receiving victims who had been shot or beaten. By mid-afternoon, police officers could be seen arresting young men in large groups.

The United Nations had "received reports that 20 people were killed," according to Felix Basse, a U.N. spokesman in Kinshasa. By Tuesday evening, it was still

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