Congolese security forces disperse protesters opposing constitutional change

DAKAR, June 12 (Reuters) - Security forces ‌in the ​Democratic Republic ​of Congo dispersed a crowd outside the parliament building in Kinshasa on Friday, witnesses and opposition politicians said, as demonstrators gathered ‌to oppose planned constitutional changes they say could allow President ⁠Felix Tshisekedi to run for a third term.

• The sit-in was organized by Coalition Article ‌64 (C64), a broad opposition alliance that ‌includes former presidential candidates Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi.

• The protest turned violent when security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse ​demonstrators who threw rocks, local residents told Reuters.

• A member of Fayulu's political party, Jean-Baptiste Kasekwa, told Reuters that several protesters, including some ⁠prominent political figures, were injured. He said police, army and militants aligned with Tshisekedi's party had been deployed ​outside parliament since dawn to prevent the sit-in from taking place.

• Opponent Delly Sesanga's communication team said in a post ​on X that he was shot in ‌the leg.

• Congo's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether security forces used live rounds. ⁠A police official deployed at the scene told reporters that officers had acted to restore order.

• The demonstration came three days after Congo's National Assembly passed a bill ⁠that would allow constitutional changes to be put to a public referendum, a move opposition ​leaders say is designed to pave the way for scrapping presidential term limits and allow Tshisekedi to run for a third consecutive term.

• Under the Congolese constitution, Tshisekedi is ‌not allowed to stand for re-election after serving two terms. He was first elected in 2018 and again in ‌2023.

• Tshisekedi raised the possibility of a third term last month, telling reporters that ⁠he would run again if ‌the Congolese people asked ​him to.

(Reporting by Stanis Bujakera, Ange Kasongo, Fiston Mahamba and Clement Bonnerot; Writing by Jessica Donati and Clement Bonnerot; Editing by ‌Mark Porter)

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