Democratic Republic of Congo activists urged leaders from the region gathered in Angola yesterday to press President Joseph Kabila to step down at the end of his mandate in December or shoulder some of the blame if the country descends into chaos.

Activists protest outside the MONUSCO office in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo. © Private

Meanwhile, eight more activists were arrested in Congo, part of the authorities’ efforts to stem protests over the ongoing political impasse.

In Goma, eight LUCHA activists were arrested as they were mobilizing to stage a sit-in in front of MONUSCO’s provincial headquarters, bringing to 17 the number of LUCHA activists arrested in Goma this week. Those arrested Tuesday and Wednesday have been released, but six arrested on Monday remain in detention.

In Kinshasa, Bunia, Butembo, Goma, Bukavu, Mbuji-Mayi, and Kananga, delegations of activists from the citizens’ movements Filimbi and LUCHA visited offices of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, to deliver copies of a civil society roadmap for overcoming the crisis peacefully and in accordance with the constitution.

The activists cancelled a planned protest in Kinshasa after the authorities said it was not authorized, citing a September decree indefinitely banning all political demonstrations in the capital. Instead, the activists delivered their memo to MONUSCO and held a press conference where they urged the regional leaders and special envoys gathered in Luanda, Angola’s capital, to call on President Kabila to step down at the end of his mandate on December 19. The activists also rejected last week’s “national dialogue” conclusions, which would allow Kabila to remain in office until at least April 2018, and possibly longer.

In a declaration published at the end of the Luanda summit, regional leaders called on all parties in Congo to “uphold the principles, ideals, and aspirations of the Congolese people, as enshrined in the [Congolese] Constitution.” They also congratulated Kabila and those who participated in the national dialogue, while urging all sides to reinforce confidence building measures.

The final declaration did not include detailed recommendations on next steps, leaving the door open for alternative approaches to resolving the political impasse – but time is short with the December 19 deadline fast approaching.

The Congolese government needs to respond to the call from African leaders with concrete action, starting with the release of activists and other political prisoners and clear measures to ensure that the fundamental rights to free expression and assembly are respected.