U.N. condemns arrests of Congo opposition members

LUBUMBASHI, Democratic Republic of Congo – 24 October 2017: The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo on Monday condemned the arrest of about 30 opposition members amid a crackdown on dissent by President Joseph Kabila's government.

The arrests occurred in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi on Sunday when police broke up a meeting by the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party on the eve of a return to the city of opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, party members told Reuters.

Such security incidents are threatening to spiral out of control in Africa's largest copper producer because of Kabila's refusal to hold elections when his presidential mandate expired nearly a year ago.

"From now, we no longer consider Joseph Kabila as president," Tshisekedi told journalists on Monday in Lubumbashi, where a planned rally was banned by the government. He is usually in the capital, or in Europe.

Congo's government has banned opposition demonstrations since last year, when security forces killed dozens of protesters demanding Kabila's departure.

The election commission said this month that an election to replace Kabila, who came to power after his father's assassination in 2001, would not be possible before April 2019 at the earliest - raising the prospect of long-term unrest.

"I urge the Congolese authorities to release immediately and unconditionally those arbitrarily arrested yesterday in Lubumbashi," said Maman Sidikou, head of the U.N. MONUSCO peacekeeping mission.

MONUSCO also demanded an end to restrictions imposed on Kyungu wa Kumwanza, president of the National Union of Federalists of the Congo (UNAFEC) party, who has been under de facto house arrest for several months without being charged with a crime.

In another sign of discontent with election delays, the Union for the Congolese Nation(UNC)opposition party said in a statement on Monday it was withdrawing its representative in a power-sharing government, Budget Minister Pierre Kangudia. The latter could not immediately be reached for comment.

Kabila's political opponents are weak and divided.

Many joined a power-sharing government earlier this year following the death of opposition figure, Etienne Tshisekedi, Felix's father, and they enjoy limited credibility with the population.

However, an economic crisis that has seen inflation spike to over 50 percent, increased militia activity, and a series of prison breaks have highlighted Kabila's tenuous hold on power.