Teargas used to stop Congo's anti-government demos

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Security forces fired shots into the air and used teargas on Sunday in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, where the Catholic church called illegal marches against President Joseph Kabila for staying in power.

All the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) opposition and civil society groups joined in the march to demand Kabila leave office immediately and to promise he will not seek to further extend his time in power.

On Sunday, DRC police arrested 12 Catholic altar boys who were protesting against President Joseph Kabila, AFP reporters saw. Officers put the 12 boys, dressed in their liturgical robes, in a police vehicle after detaining them as they led a protest march to demand that Kabila leave power.

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila addresses the nation at Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo April 5, 2017. / Reuters Photo‍

Police have banned demonstrations and said that all gatherings of more than five people will be dispersed. Across Kinshasa, police and soldiers searched vehicles and checked passengers' identifications.

Authorities ordered internet and SMS services to be cut following calls by Catholic activists for protest marches after Sunday mass. The activists are demanding that Kabila commit to not changing the constitution in a way that would allow him to stand for a third term and to release political prisoners.

"People fell, first-aiders are resuscitating old ladies who have fallen, but the priest has not stopped saying mass, which continues with Christians who have not fled," said another parishioner who identified herself as Chantal.

The soldiers entered the compound of the main church of the capital, asking people to leave the premises. The parish priest asked worshipers to "return to their homes in peace because there is a heavy presence of soldiers and police ready to fire".

At another church in the working class district of Barumbu, a few dozen police officers used teargas and stun grenades against some 300 churchgoers, who waved bibles and sang religious songs as they tried to march, a Reuters witness said.

A police spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.

Opposition appeals for protests this year have been easily suppressed by security forces but the Catholic activists' appeal has managed to unite nearly all of Congo's fractious opposition.

Kabila's ruling coalition and opposition leaders struck a deal last Dec. 31 that allowed Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his second and final term but required that the election to replace him be held by the end of 2017.

The country's electoral commission, however, later said that was not possible and scheduled the vote for Dec. 23, 2018.

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(Top photo: A vendor sits at a bus stand with pictures of President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo December 31, 2016. / Reuters Photo)