By Aaron Ross
KINSHASA, Sept 27 (Reuters) – Thousands of people protested in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, calling on President Joseph Kabila to respect his country’s constitution and step down when his second elected term ends in 2016.
A march in Kinshasa was peaceful but protesters in Goma, the biggest town in the volatile east, were dispersed by tear gas.
The country is rife with speculation that Kabila is looking for ways to remain in charge of the vast, mineral-rich nation that has been plagued by decades of conflict.
In Kinshasa, protesters demanded dialogue with the government over the holding of presidential elections in 2016, even as many denounced Kabila as illegitimate
“We don’t want any more Mr Kabilas. The people are tired,” said Bruno Mavungu, secretary general of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UPDS) party.
“The Congolese people are saying: no one touches the constitution,” he told Reuters as he took part in a 11 km (7 mile) march that set off from the iconic monument to Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first elected prime minister. FULL STORY