On Saturday, police in Kinshasa's capital fought with an opposition march and fired tear gas at hundreds of protestors. According to the authorities, they veered from the designated path through the city. The opposition leaders organized the march in protest of what they claim are anomalies occurring when individuals try to register to vote in the upcoming presidential elections in December.

In addition to being outraged by the exorbitant expense of living, the demonstrators also accuse President Felix Tshisekedi of being dishonest. "Life has gotten intolerable; just look at how bread production has drastically decreased. We are requesting social transformation in Congo, according to the father of six Bindanda Bilisi. Former Katanga provincial governor and rich businessman Moise Katumbi, who is anticipated to compete in the December presidential election, had a falling out with Tshisekedi when former president Joseph Kabila was in office.

It's horrible to see that tear gas is now being used instead of actual bullets like they formerly did. And all of this, Mr. Tshisekedi added, is "very sad. We were with him in the opposition, and if they don't even have to respect the Congolese people who want to march because there is a high cost of living, nothing is working in the nation, there is corruption, it's sad." He made this statement while leading the march. Katumbi, former prime minister Augustin Matata, MP Delly Sesanga, and Martin Fayulu, who ran for president in 2018 and claimed to have won, organized this protest.

When scores of riot police pulled up in their cars, they started to shoot tear gas and make arrests of at least a dozen individuals. This is when the fights started. Later, in a statement, Albert-Fabrice Puela, the minister of human rights for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, denounced "acts of repression" and "brutality" against protesters, including "minors". He said, "We want immediate investigations from justice so that accountability for the many infractions is established. The opposition leaders were confined to their cars by the police, who were preventing them from moving forward. According to former prime minister Matata, "It is a peaceful march to protest against a chaotic electoral process which prepares President Tshisekedi to take power by force, against the high cost of living, and against oppression."

The police operation's leader disagreed. Faustin Numbi stated that the march was authorized, but it would take place on the "other side" of the city, in the northwest. "We spoke with them and instructed them to make room for traffic and go to the starting place, which is at Mbeseke. They were unwilling to cooperate, he continued. An AFP journalist said that another group of protesters who attempted to approach the parliament building along this path were dispersed after being falsely accused by the police. Two or more injured protesters were described as being "between life and death" by the demonstration organizers during a joint press conference.

They also declared that a fresh protest will take place on Thursday in front of the National Electoral Commission's Kinshasa offices. The 20th of December is set aside for the presidential election. Tshisekedi, the president who took office in 2019, is running for re-election.