DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Bully Pulpit
The head of the Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo blasted the government for “barbarism” following a crackdown on demonstrators that left at least seven people dead.
Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo accused security forces of opening fire on peaceful protesters and desecrating places of worship on Sunday, Reuters reported. The protests against President Joseph Kabila for refusing to step down had been organized by Catholic activists.
“We can only denounce, condemn and stigmatize the actions of the supposedly valiant men in uniform, which are, unfortunately, nothing more, nothing less than barbarism,” Monsengwo said.
Kabila is already serving beyond his allotted term under an agreement brokered by the church. And a decision by the electoral commission to delay elections that were promised for 2017 until the end of this year has revived fears he won’t step down after all.
Dozens have died in related protests over the past two years and militia violence across the country has also increased, Reuters noted.
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