Congo police fire tear gas at banned election protest

Riot police massed in the centre of Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa on Wednesday as the authorities moved to block a protest by the opposition who are calling for a re-run of last week’s chaotic national election.
Five of President Felix Tshisekedi’s challengers in the race have called on their supporters to join a march against the poll, which they say was fraudulent and should be annulled.
They have vowed to proceed even after the government banned the protest on Tuesday, saying it was intended to undermine the work of the national election commission (CENI) as it compiles results that for now show Tshisekedi with a strong lead.
The disputed election threatens to further destabilise poverty-stricken Congo, which is already grappling with an security crisis in its east that has hampered development in the country, the world’s top producer of cobalt and other industrial minerals and metals.
Police surrounded the headquarters of one of the incumbent’s main challengers, Martin Fayulu, where protesters were meant to gather in the morning. Some were in riot gear while others held rifles, a Reuters reporter said.