Clashes Between Students Protesting Fee Increases and Police in the DRC Turn Deadly

News24 reports that police in the Democratic Republic of Congo have issued a warning to protesting students at Kinshasa University (UniKin) o vacate the campus.

The warning comes after clashes between the protesting students and the police resulted in the death of a police officer with two others suffering injuries. Students have been protesting against proposed increases in tuition fees.

This past Tuesday, the DRC government gave a 48-hour deadline for protesting students to vacate UniKin—a deadline the police are now emphasising today.

Part of a recent statement released by the police reads as follows:

"Any student found on the campus on Thursday "will be considered an infiltrator, an enemy of the Republic, and in league with the bandits" who killed the officer. Police will use all legal means to evacuate the campus and residences."

According to AfricaNews, local media reports indicate that tuition fees of 253 000 francs (USD 429) during the last academic year have nearly doubled to 485 000 francs (USD 822) this academic year. Many students have since been displaced with many others reporting that they currently have nowhere to sleep.

President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to meet with student leaders tomorrow in an effort to find a way to move forward.

Earlier last year, student protests erupted in the southeastern regions of the country after a large area, including Lubumbashi University, was left without electricity and water following damage caused to infrastructure by torrential rains. Additionally students also protested a hike in fees.

Violent clashes with the police subsequently led to the death of one police officer and three students according to IOL.