Kinshasa accused of recruiting foreign militants

Human Rights Watch (HRW) last week claimed former militants were recruited by the DRC Government for a bloody crackdown on protests against the President that left dozens of people dead last year. It said President Joseph Kabila's regime had drafted in fighters previously active in the M23 rebel group from Uganda and Rwanda to suppress the December 2016 demonstrations, which erupted when he refused to step down at the end of his term in power. The right group's allegations came as the country faces a new flare-up of violence after Kabila pushed back a much-delayed new vote until December 2018, with the opposition demanding that the veteran leader resign sooner. 'Senior security force officers in the DRC mobilised over 200 former M23 rebel fighters from neighbouring countries to quash protests against President Joseph Kabila in December 2016,' HRW said in its report.

Violence has broken out in Cape Town's Congolese community, with some expats going into hiding out of fear for their lives. They believe they are being targeted for being against Kabila. This after a Congolese resident was murdered and another was shot at, in an apparent attempted hit. News24 notes that protection orders have also been obtained as some of those embroiled in what is happening are turning to the police for help. In the murder case, a Congolese bouncer was stabbed to death two Sundays ago. Several sources say another Congolese man was behind the stabbing. Many bouncers operating in Cape Town are Congolese and there are fears that there may be fighting among them. The report notes that pro and anti-Kabila factions are targeting each other.