[{"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__301958__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"301958","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/301958","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__301958__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__301958__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__301958__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\u003EIn Kinshasa and cities across the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday, many people stayed home from work and classes. Shops and markets were closed or opened late, and streets were largely quiet.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe shutdown came following the opposition\u2019s call for \u003Cem\u003E\u201cvilles mortes\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E \u2013 literally \u201cdead cities\u201d \u2013 to protest the failed implementation of the New Year\u2019s Eve agreement, the Catholic Church-mediated power-sharing deal that helped defuse an explosive situation late last year. The deal allows President Joseph Kabila to stay in power beyond his constitutionally mandated two-term limit that ended on December 19, 2016, until elections are held before the end of 2017.\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\/31467\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/2017-04-drc-africa-udps.jpg?itok=d1ioO-GD 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/2017-04-drc-africa-udps.jpg?itok=KADRfdS9 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_2017\/2017-04-drc-africa-udps.jpg?itok=KADRfdS9\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022635\u0022 alt=\u0022The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) holds a press conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s capital, Kinshasa, March 28, 2017.\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\u003EThe Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) holds a press conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s capital, Kinshasa, March 28, 2017.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2017 Private\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\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ECongo\u2019s conference of Catholic bishops, CENCO, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/soniarolley\/status\/846499866356404225\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E on March 27, 2017, that they were withdrawing from their mediation role due to the impasse over the implementation of the deal. The ruling majority coalition has refused to accept the opposition\u2019s choice of Felix Tshisekedi for prime minister, insisting the Rassemblement opposition coalition submit at least three names, one of whom Kabila will nominate as prime minister. The majority has also rejected the Rassemblement\u2019s designation of Pierre Lumbi to replace the late \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/299640\u0022\u003EEtienne Tshisekedi\u003C\/a\u003E as president of the Rassemblement\u2019s Conseil des Sages\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003Ewhich should in turn make him the president of the national follow-up council for implementation of the deal and the organization of elections (CNSA).\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EIn announcing they were stepping aside, the Catholic bishops called for Kabila to take responsibility and engage personally to ensure swift implementation of the deal. They also called on the international community to provide greater support, and on the Congolese people to remain \u201cvigilant.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe next day, March 28, tensions were high in Kinshasa and several other cities, as groups of people went to the streets, burning tires or chanting songs against the Kabila government, to protest the failure of the deal and call on Kabila to leave office.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EAt day\u2019s end, Jean Marc Kabund, the secretary general of the main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/soniarolley\/status\/846728385648869377\u0022\u003Etold\u003C\/a\u003E a large crowd in Kinshasa that the country was \u201cat an impasse\u201d and called for \u201cacts of peaceful resistance,\u201d including a nationwide march on April 10 to protest the failure to implement the deal. After supporters cried out for more immediate action, police arrived and fired teargas to disperse the crowd.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022 title=\u0022type: image\u0022\u003E\u0026#13;\n\t\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022photo_essay\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-left embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-node embedded-entity-bundle-image-gallery embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--left\u0022\u003E\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022container-large max-w-lg mx-auto px-6 sm:px-8 md:pr-14 md:pl-24 x2l:px-0 x2l:mx-32 x3l:mx-auto px-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-0\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022image-gallery\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022image-gallery__slider pt-10 pb-6\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cfigure class=\u0022image-gallery__slide\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/image_gallery\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/whatsapp_image_2017-04-04_at_11.23.23.jpeg?itok=gzh5o7oh\u0022 alt=\u0022Many shops are closed on Kinshasa\u2019s Avenue de la Victoire, on April 3, 2017.\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 class=\u0022image-gallery__slide-image mx-auto unloaded\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022image-gallery__slide-caption text-gray-700 text-center text-sm pt-8 md:pt-10\u0022\u003EMany shops are closed on Kinshasa\u2019s Avenue de la Victoire, on April 3, 2017.\u0026#13;\n \u00a9 2017 Private\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022image-gallery__slide\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/image_gallery\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/whatsapp_image_2017-04-04_at_11.22.27.jpeg?itok=ODCMPw-S\u0022 alt=\u0022Kinshasa\u0027s main avenue, the Boulevard du 30 Juin, is largely quiet, on April 3, 2017. \u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 class=\u0022image-gallery__slide-image mx-auto unloaded\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022image-gallery__slide-caption text-gray-700 text-center text-sm pt-8 md:pt-10\u0022\u003EKinshasa\u0027s main avenue, the Boulevard du 30 Juin, is largely quiet, on April 3, 2017.\u00a0\u0026#13;\n \u00a9 2017 Private\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022image-gallery__slide\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/image_gallery\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/whatsapp_image_2017-04-04_at_11.21.47.jpeg?itok=PnEmdSJH\u0022 alt=\u0022A street in Kinshasa\u2019s Limete neighborhood, during a \u0026quot;ville morte\u0026quot; \u2013 literally \u201cdead city\u201d \u2013 to protest the failed implementation of the New Year\u2019s Eve agreement, on April 3, 2017.\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 class=\u0022image-gallery__slide-image mx-auto unloaded\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022image-gallery__slide-caption text-gray-700 text-center text-sm pt-8 md:pt-10\u0022\u003EA street in Kinshasa\u2019s Limete neighborhood, during a \u0022ville morte\u0022\u00a0\u2013 literally \u201cdead city\u201d \u2013 to protest the failed implementation of the New Year\u2019s Eve agreement, on April 3, 2017.\u0026#13;\n \u00a9 2017 Private\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EOn March 29, the Rassemblement opposition coalition, which includes the UDPS, published a declaration calling the agreement \u201cbroken.\u201d They urged all Congolese to respect yesterday\u2019s \u003Cem\u003Eville morte\u003C\/em\u003E, support a \u201cgeneral strike\u201d on April 5, and participate in the April 10 march, as well as subsequent demonstrations to demand the New Year\u2019s Eve deal be implemented.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EKabila reportedly \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/actualite.cd\/2017\/03\/28\/nshole-kabila-sengage-a-obtenir-lui-meme-consensus-cnsa-primature\/\u0022\u003Etold\u003C\/a\u003E the bishops in a meeting on March 28 that he would get involved personally to find a solution to the political standoff. The presidency \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/actualite.cd\/2017\/04\/03\/kabila-consulte-a-partir-de-17h-quatre-delegations-programme-de-cet-apres-midi\/\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E that Kabila would be meeting with concerned parties this week, but the Rassemblement already \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.rfi.fr\/afrique\/20170331-rdc-consultations-kabila-majorite-refus-rassemblement-opposition\u0022\u003Esaid\u003C\/a\u003E it would not take part. Kabila is expected to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/soniarolley\/status\/846795021575770113\u0022\u003Eaddress parliament\u003C\/a\u003E in the coming days.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThis political maneuvering has taken place in the context of increasing public outrage over the violence in the Kasai region in central Congo, where the death toll continues to rise. \u003Ca name=\u0022_Hlk479025843\u0022 id=\u0022_Hlk479025843\u0022\u003EThe still-unexplained deaths of United Nations experts Michael Sharp and Zaida \u003C\/a\u003ECatal\u00e1n, whose bodies were \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2017\/03\/28\/dr-congo-bodies-two-un-experts-found\u0022\u003Efound\u003C\/a\u003E last week, the continued disappearance of their four Congolese colleagues, and new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/soniarolley\/status\/847925791707062272\u0022\u003Ereports\u003C\/a\u003E of soldiers summarily executing youth while conducting door-to-door operations in Kananga city, highlight the need for an international, independent investigation into the violence in the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ECongo\u2019s international partners should take strong action \u2013 including further targeted sanctions from the UN, European Union, and United States \u2013 and increase the pressure on Kabila and his government. Many Congolese are losing all hope that the New Year\u2019s Eve deal can be salvaged and a peaceful, democratic transition achieved.\u003C\/p\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}]