[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298132__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"298132","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/298132","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298132__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298132__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298132__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EThe streets of Kinshasa and other cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo were quieter yesterday, following Tuesday\u2019s deadly protests, as many families tried in vain to find their loved ones who were arrested or killed. Others stayed home, fearing the prospect of more violence and repression. Today, many went back to work and school, but the situation remains volatile.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tHuman Rights Watch has now confirmed that security forces killed at least 34 people during Tuesday\u2019s protests, including 19 in Kinshasa, 5 in Lubumbashi, 6 in Boma, and 4 in Matadi. We\u2019ve received a number of additional reports that we\u2019re still working to verify.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30581\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-africa-congo-police-protests.jpg?itok=96EQJLs0 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-africa-congo-police-protests.jpg?itok=hI-ZFj4B 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-africa-congo-police-protests.jpg?itok=hI-ZFj4B\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022481\u0022 alt=\u0022Congolese policemen drive past a fire barricade during demonstrations in the streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo\u0027s capital Kinshasa, December 20, 2016.\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003ECongolese policemen drive past a fire barricade during demonstrations in the streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo\u0027s capital Kinshasa, December 20, 2016.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Reuters\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tOne family in Kinshasa told us about Jacob, a driver from Masina commune who went outside his house at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday to take a phone call \u2013 an hour after the end of President Joseph Kabila\u2019s constitutionally mandated two-term limit, and as many had already gone to the streets to tell Kabila his time was up, blowing \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/297983\u0022\u003Ewhistles\u003C\/a\u003E and banging pots and pans. Soldiers soon came by, accused Jacob of \u201ctalking to rebels who were planning an attack on Kinshasa,\u201d and then took him into custody. Jacob\u2019s family later went to the military base near their home to try to negotiate Jacob\u2019s release. But the soldiers there told them they should return home and \u201cmourn his death.\u201d The neighbors soon found Jacob\u2019s body in a hole on the side of the road, about 200 meters from their home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThe United Nations human rights office also reported that at least \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/12\/21\/world\/africa\/congo-protests.html?_r=0\u0022\u003E19 people\u003C\/a\u003E were killed in Kinshasa Tuesday, while the police \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.periscope.tv\/w\/1MnxnrbaovXxO\u0022\u003Espokesperson\u003C\/a\u003E put the death toll at nine for Kinshasa \u2013 all killed by stray bullets, he said. Across the country, he said, 22 people had been killed during protests between December 18 and 21, including 3 in Matadi, 2 in Boma, and 8 in Lubumbashi. He also said that more than 270 people had been arrested.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn Goma yesterday morning, police arrested 19 pro-democracy youth activists from the LUCHA citizens\u2019 movement as they tried to hold a peaceful sit-in outside the governor\u2019s office. An international journalist observing the protest was detained for several hours. At least five international journalists have been detained \u2013 and later released \u2013 since Monday, in Kinshasa and Goma.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tSeven LUCHA activists and a bystander were also arrested yesterday in Mbuji-Mayi while they were discussing their upcoming activities. Two of the activists were transferred to the prosecutor\u2019s office today. The six others were released this afternoon. This morning, at least 14 activists from the youth movements LUCHA, Filimbi, and R\u00e9veil des Indign\u00e9s were arrested during a sit-in in front of the provincial assembly in Bukavu. They were later released.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn Oicha, eastern Congo, several dozen people, mostly youth, were arrested on Monday night for making noise with whistles and pots to send a message to Kabila to leave office. Local civil society activists have reported that many were mistreated in detention. They were released on Tuesday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tAlso on Tuesday, December 20, a court in Kinshasa \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2016\/12\/21\/actualite\/justice\/kinshasa-la-requete-de-liberte-provisoire-de-jean-claude-muyambo\u0022\u003Erejected\u003C\/a\u003E the appeal for provisional release of a political prisoner, Jean-Claude Muyambo, detained since political protests in the capital in January 2015. A court that day allowed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297983\u0022\u003EFranck Diongo\u003C\/a\u003E, an opposition leader arrested on Monday, to be transferred to a hospital. Diongo\u2019s lawyers say he was severely mistreated during the arrest.\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\u0026#13;\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-left embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--left\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30582\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-africa-congo-violence-map.png?itok=tBRdQoAh 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-africa-congo-violence-map.png?itok=uUyqwvpT 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-africa-congo-violence-map.png?itok=uUyqwvpT\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022635\u0022 alt=\u0022DRC December 22 violence mapping\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Reuters\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\t\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tSome in Kinshasa\u2019s Ngaba commune attempted to protest yesterday morning, but were quickly dispersed by the police. In Matete commune, there were reports of soldiers conducting door-to-door searches and numerous warrantless arrests. Arrests were also reported in many parts of Kinshasa last night and today.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tSmaller protests and sporadic gunshots were reported yesterday in Lubumbashi. On Tuesday, protesters ransacked or burned a number of government buildings, including the health and environment buildings, a courthouse, police stations, and a local administration office. Gas stations, the \u201cJoseph Kabila stadium,\u201d and some private vehicles were also targeted. Last night, Human Rights Watch was alerted to scores of arrests of young people in the G\u00e9camines and Katuba neighborhoods. The situation is calmer today but fear is palpable in the southern city, local activists told us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tStarting Tuesday, long-standing tensions broke out in several disparate parts of the country. It remains unclear if or how they might be related to the broader political crisis. Heavy fighting between local security forces and a religious group was reported in Lisala in the northwest. Initial reports by local activists speak of at least 17 people killed. In the provincial capital, Kananga, in central Congo, fighting continued through Thursday. Human Rights Watch has not yet received any casualty reports. Over the past several months, however, scores of people reportedly died there and in neighboring Tshikapa during clashes between a local militia and the Congolese army. Further southeast, in Manono, clashes between Batwa and Luba militia flared up again, wounding dozens and reportedly killing at least 11 people, a witness said. Others speak of much larger numbers of victims.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn eastern Congo, opposing Mai Mai militia groups clashed yesterday and this morning in Bwalanda, western Rutshuru territory. According to initial reports from local civil society groups, at least 17 civilians and a police officer have been killed. Human Rights Watch has documented how related inter-ethnic fighting between militia groups in the area has cost the lives of 170 civilians since November 2015.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tMeanwhile, the Catholic Church-mediated dialogue between the ruling coalition and the opposition resumed yesterday afternoon, with the bishops back in Kinshasa. They called for an independent investigation into Tuesday\u2019s killings and the need to reach an agreement \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2016\/12\/drc-church-calls-peace-deadly-clashes-161222052836089.html\u0022\u003Ebefore Christmas\u003C\/a\u003E. Some opposition leaders have said they\u2019re giving the dialogue a chance before calling for another round of protests, but many on the street say it\u2019s too late for dialogue \u2013 \u201cKabila\u2019s time is up and he needs to go.\u201d It remains to be seen, however, how much they\u2019ll be able and willing to mobilize in the face of the government\u2019s deadly and repressive tactics.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tSeveral governments have issued strong statements in the past few days \u2013 including the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cd.usembassy.gov\/drc-update-condemnation-violence-call-consensus\/\u0022\u003EUnited States\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.diplomatie.gouv.fr\/fr\/dossiers-pays\/republique-democratique-du-congo\/http-publication-diplomatie-gouv-fr-fr-dossiers-pays-republique-democratique-du-congo-evenements\/article\/republique-democratique-du-congo-situation-20-12-16\u0022\u003EFrance\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.auswaertiges-amt.de\/DE\/Infoservice\/Presse\/Meldungen\/2016\/161219-DR-Kongo.html\u0022\u003EGermany\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/diplomatie.belgium.be\/fr\/newsroom\/nouvelles\/2016\/reynders_et_de_croo_expriment_leur_preoccupation_face_a_la_situation_en_rdc\u0022\u003EBelgium\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/minister-for-africa-statement-on-the-political-situation-in-drc\u0022\u003EUnited Kingdom\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/bit.ly\/2hH9UHt\u0022\u003ECanada\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eeas.europa.eu\/headquarters\/headquarters-homepage\/17484\/declaration-de-la-haute-representantvice-presidente-de-la-commission-europeenne-federica_sv\u0022\u003EEuropean Union\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 condemning the recent violence and supporting the Catholic Church\u2019s efforts to reach an inclusive agreement. Some explicitly warned that they stand ready to impose additional targeted sanctions, and that their relationships and development cooperation with Congo will now change, given Kabila\u2019s reduced legitimacy after December 19.\u00a0\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]