During Katumbi's address to supporters in the coastal town of Moanda on Tuesday, live rounds were fired, and several people were injured, marking an escalation in tension leading up to the Dec. 20 vote.
Accounts of the incident differ. The provincial government, in a statement, asserted that Katumbi's guards fired warning shots in response to a rowdy crowd, heightening tension and causing commotion. The police utilized tear gas to restore order, resulting in injuries, including a seriously hurt police officer. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, as stated in the official release.
Katumbi took to X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming that the police used live bullets deliberately to incite violence. "In order to avoid further provocation, I have decided to temporarily suspend my meeting with citizens in (the cities of) Kananga and Tshikapa," he stated, referring to scheduled events on Wednesday.
Kananga and Tshikapa are located in the Kasai-Central province, a stronghold for President Felix Tshisekedi's supporters. The upcoming election, with almost 44 million registered voters, will determine whether Tshisekedi will secure another term after facing economic hardship and insecurity during his first term.
