Congo News: Opposition protests fizzle in Goma
Africa’s elections do not necessarily bring stronger democracies. Supporters of Congolese opposition candidate Etienne Tshisekedi celebrate outside his party’s offices in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, on November 30, 2011, as they claim their candidate was ahead in the provisional results.
Protests against President Joseph Kabila's election appear to have fizzled out here in eastern Congo.
Many opposition supporters complained that Kabila's election win was fraudulent and rigged and they planned protests.
But the protests in Goma were broken up by police before they really even began Tuesday morning, reports GlobalPost correspondent Heather Murdock in Goma.
"Opposition says five people were arrested, including the local party chiefs. The Goma mayor says two people were arrested because the protest was not authorized. The mayor also says election protests — which always turn into riots — are not welcome in this town," writes Murdock.
It looks like this is the beginning and the end of the protest movement here in Goma. Opposition leaders say they will fight on — but Goma is packed with soldiers and riot police. People won't demonstrate after this morning.