Four people are dead after clashes broke out on Thursday between rival supporters of presidential frontrunners Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba ahead of historic elections on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a report said on Friday.
The violence began in the northern town of Gbadolite after Nzanga Mobutu, son of former Congolese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and supporter of incumbent Kabila entered a local radio station owned by Bemba.
Mobutu visited the station to confront reporters on their coverage of his campaigning, the United Nations-backed broadcaster Radio Okapi reported. A gun battle broke out outside the station between police and Mobutu’s private guard, killing three officers and one of Bemba’s presidential guardsmen caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, hours earlier, rioting erupted outside a main jail in the capital, Kinshasa, killing three people, according to reports.
The violence comes days before the country returns to the polls in run-off elections, raising fears that the second round may not go as smoothly as predicted by UN and local officials.
Violence shook the capital after the first elections in July, leaving 23 people dead in the aftermath.
A UN force is mandated to secure the vast country during the elections. It has 17 000 troops fanned throughout with 2 000 based in Kinshasa. The German-led European Union force stepped up its numbers ahead of the election, bringing its total in Kinshasa to about 1 100.
The UN and local police have been patrolling the capital in the lead-up to the vote to limit the number of illegal arms. Experts have criticised this move as insufficient to prevent unrest, because clashes could break out between Kabila and Bemba’s private armed militias, whose numbers are not restricted.
Sunday’s vote brings to an end the country’s first democratic elections in 40 years. Results are set to be announced in mid- November. — Sapa-dpa