Violence erupts at anti-government protest in DR Congo

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on March 14, 2024, to protest proposed constitutional changes. The anti-government demonstration, organized by the opposition party Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), turned violent as police intervened to disperse the crowd. Reports indicate that police used tear gas and live ammunition to control the protesters, resulting in an unknown number of injuries and arrests. The UNC stated that the protest was aimed at preventing President Félix Tshisekedi from amending the constitution to extend his term in office. The proposed changes, according to opposition leaders, would undermine democratic institutions and consolidate presidential power. The government has not yet officially commented on the incident, but security forces were deployed in large numbers across the capital to prevent further unrest.