Congo protests fall flat as opposition to Kabila sputters

Opposition calls for mass protests against Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila fell flat on Monday (April 10) when only a handful of people showed up, undermining efforts to oust him after his refusal to quit at the end of his mandate last year.

The sparse turnout in the capital and other major cities pointed to the opposition’s waning credibility and persistent difficulties convincing Congolese to risk frequently deadly crackdowns by security services.

The normally hectic streets of Kinshasa, a city of more than 10 million people, were nearly deserted on Monday with a heavy police presence patrolling and fearful residents staying home.

The prospect of mass protests dimmed on Sunday (April 9) when the main opposition leader, Felix Tshisekedi, flew to Ethiopia at the invitation of the African Union, just hours after holding a news conference to urge Congolese to take to the streets.