Thousands attend pro Kabila rally in Kinshasa

Thousands of people showed up at a rally of the ruling party in the DRC in a show of support for President Joseph Kabila.

Ruling coalition rally #Kinshasa #DRC pic.twitter.com/gYoDHJLEJL

— Malcolm Webb (@MalcolmWebb) July 29, 2016

The supporters thronged to Kinshasa’s Tata Raphael stadium for the rally organized to support Kabila’s ‘‘national dialogue’‘ initiative.

“We came here to reaffirm our commitment to Joseph Kabila,” said Aubin Minaku, secretary general of the Presidential majority in power and President of the National Assembly.

The president has asked all political stakeholders and civil society groups to take part in talks to avoid a political crisis.

Joseph Kabila is bound by the constitution to step down at the end of his second term in November but many accuse of him of trying to stay in power by delaying the presidential polls.

The rally comes two days after opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi received a rousing welcome after returning to the country.

Tensions are high in the DRC as opposition parties believe President Kabila, in power since 2001, will postpone the presidential election to cling to power.

AFP