By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – On Tuesday, 6 September, police officers shot an activist at the offices of the Union Democracy and Social Progress (“UDPS”) during pre-election violence.  Attackers also damaged UDPS headquarters and a local television station RLTV.  Both organizations oppose the current government.

UDPS asserts the police shot at their offices with live ammunition, but Kinshasa’s police chief General Jean-Dieudonne Oleko did not comment on the claims.  Congo Planet reports the police shot ammunition to disperse a protest involving UDPS members.  Security Minister Adoph Lumanu stated the police fire wounded twelve people.

Current President Joseph Kabila, representing the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (“PPRD”), is up for reelection in November, and UDPS candidate Etienne Tshisekedi is his main challenger.  Tshisekedi, leader of UDPS, registered his presidential candidacy on Monday.  The BBC reports a witness spotted the attackers of the UDPS offices wearing PPRD T-shirts.

Attacks on UDPS headquarters occurred overnight, and tensions between the two candidates are rising.  During the two early morning attacks, people looted and ransacked Tshiekedi’s offices.  Additionally, attackers lit RLTV on fire.  RLTV is an independent television station that supports Tshisekedi.  The government previously attempted to silence the news station.  The news station has been off air since the attacks.  UPDS chief of staff Serge Mayamba reports the attacks occurred around 2 A.M.

UDPS members that followed Tshisekedi to his presidential registration attacked a PPRD building in a similar manner on Monday.  They also set two cars on fire at the PPRD headquarters.

Kabila replaced his assassinated father as leader of this central African country.  Kabila has ruled the country since 2001, and in 2006, he won the country’s first free and fair election.  This election spurred an investment boom in the region, specifically in the southern Cooper Belt.

Tshisekedi fears Kabila will rig the election.  He boycotted the 2006 election, and the UDPS now requests access to the electoral commissioner’s server to review election data and polling stations to ensure a fair election.

DR Congo’s Interior Minister Adolphe Lumanu Mulenda stated at a news conference that “Probably reacting to the attack on the inter-federal seat of the PPRD, some troublemakers have sacked the offices of the UDPS and RLTV television channel.”

The BBC reports the capital remains tense.  However, UDPS Secretary-General Jacquemin Shabani asks his party members and the police cease the violence.

For further information, please see:
BBC – Activist dies in Democratic Republic of Congo unrest – 6 Sept 11
Bloomberg – Congo TV Station Burned in Pre-Election Political Violence – 6 Sept 2011
Congo Planet – Tensions Rise as Tshisekedi Enters Presidential Race – 6 Sept 11
Forbes – Police shoot protesters in Congo; 1 dead, 12 hurt – 6 Sept 11