Scottish Catholic Observer

The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has backed ongoing protests against the country’s president.

At least 11 people have died in violent protests against President Joseph Kabila which began on Monday.

President Kabila first took office in 2001 following the assassination of his father, the then president. He was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2011. Kabila is constitutionally barred from running in elections due next year. Protestors believe government plans to hold a census is an attempt to delay the election.

Cardinal Laurent Mosengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of capital city Kinshasa, has criticised any attempt to postpone the elections.

“”We disapprove of and condemn any revision of the electoral law that aims to… illegally postpone the holding of the elections in 2016,” the Archbishop said, adding that ‘certain political figures, along with law enforcement agencies, are sowing despair and creating insecurity.’

“We denounce these actions which have caused death and we are launching this plea: stop killing your people.”

The Church had earlier this week shut all Catholic schools in Kinshasa.