In Kinshasa, many shops, schools and buildings are closed in the city center in observance of a ville morte (general strike) on October 19. © 2016 Private

In the eastern city of Butembo, protesters use a yellow coffin to signal the coming end of Kabila’s presidency, October 19. © 2016 Private

The eastern city of Uvira observes a ville morte (general strike), keeping shops, schools and other facilities closed for much of the day on October 19. © 2016 Private

In the eastern city of Goma, several hundred protesters take to the streets on October 19, a day after a “national dialogue” concluded but failed to resolve a political impasse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. © 2016 Private

In the eastern city of Goma, hundreds of protesters take to the streets, many of them carrying yellow cards like football referees as a sign of “caution” for Kabila that his constitutionally mandated two-term limit is ending. © 2016 Private

In the eastern city of Goma hundreds of protesters take to the street, many of them carrying yellow cards as a warning sign to President Kabila that his constitutionally mandated two-term limit is ending. © 2016 Private

In the eastern city of Goma several hundred protesters take to the street, many of them carrying yellow cards as a warning sign to President Kabila that his constitutionally mandated two-term limit is ending. © 2016 Private

In the eastern city of Goma, several hundred protesters take to the streets, calling on President Kabila to respect his constitutionally mandated two-term limit and leave office by December 19, 2016. © 2016 Private

Protesters marching in the city center of Goma on October 19 to express their opposition to President Kabila staying past his constitutionally mandated two-term limit, which ends on December 19, 2016. © 2016 Private

Protesters gather in the city center of Goma on October 19 to express their opposition to President Kabila staying past his constitutionally mandated two-term limit, which ends on December 19, 2016. © 2016 Private

Police guard the road to the governor's office in Goma as protesters march through the city on October 19. © 2016 Human Rights Watch

Protesters barricade the road near the governor's office in Goma on October 19. © 2016 Private

Police guard the entrance of the governor's office in Goma on October 19. © 2016 Private

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets and workers stayed home yesterday to protest the political crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, exactly two months before President Joseph Kabila is due to leave office as mandated by the Congolese constitution.

The actions came one day after a “national dialogue” concluded, but failed to resolve the country’s political impasse, and follow a Constitutional Court ruling earlier this week allowing the electoral commission to delay the call for elections, which went forward despite an apparent breach of the court’s own quorum rules.

The streets of the capital, Kinshasa, were much quieter than usual, as many people stayed home from work and school in response to the opposition’s call for a ville morte, or general strike. While police were deployed throughout the city, Human Rights Watch did not receive reports of any serious incidents – a significant contrast to demonstrations in Kinshasa the week of September 19, when security forces killed at least 56 protesters.

In the eastern city of Goma, several hundred protesters took to the streets, many of them carrying yellow cards like football referees as a sign of warning for President Kabila. “Kabila, your mandate will end in 60 days,” was written on many cards. During the peaceful march, some people chanted: “You need to leave! You need to leave!” Others whistled to amplify their message and anger.

The demonstrators marched from the city center to the office of the provincial governor, where the police then used teargas to disperse the crowd of about 150 to 200 people. Some protesters then created roadblocks nearby, placing large rocks and tree trunks across the road. The security forces were more restrained than in past demonstrations in Goma, including on May 26 and September 19, when security forces used unnecessary lethal force against protesters.

In the northeastern city of Butembo, protesters carried a yellow coffin to symbolize the end of Kabila’s presidency. Smaller protests or villes mortes were also observed in Beni, Kalemie, Kindu, Kananga, Bandundu, and Mbuji-Mayi.

While there seemed to be business as usual in some cities – including Bukavu and Lubumbashi – the acts of protest seen across much of the country signal the deep frustrations of many, and the potential for more unrest in the coming weeks.

#DRC: Police fired teargas to disperse large crowd of protesters in front of Governor's office earlier today in #Goma, DR #Congo pic.twitter.com/gNyqQ82M23
— Timo Mueller (@MuellerTimo) October 19, 2016

#Goma: After police fired tear gas to disperse crowd at Gov.'s office, protesters barricade road. @HRW calls on all sides to remain peaceful pic.twitter.com/fsEeEwlR97
— Timo Mueller (@MuellerTimo) October 19, 2016