Chronicle of an Uprising Foretold
ON THE DAY THEY WERE GOING TO KILL him, Santiago Nasar got up at five-thirty in the morning to wait for the boat the bishop was coming on. He'd dreamed he was going through a grove of timber trees where a gentle drizzle was falling, and for an instant he was happy in his dream, but when he awoke he felt completely spattered with bird shit.
-- Opening of “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” by Gabriel García Márquez
Since January 2015 the Congolese have been counting the days up to today, 19 December 2016. To the surprise of many, on Monday 19 January 2015 the people went out to the streets to manifest against an amendment of the electoral law. The repression was violent, dozens of civilians died, but the law did not pass. January 2015 served as a wake-up call for those in power. But also for the population, as their voice was heard and realized that manifesting could have an impact.
Today, almost two years later, president Kabila’s mandate comes officially and constitutionally to an end. As viewers of an unfolding theatre play, everyone is awaiting whether the president will step down or not. His tactic is that of silence. By not pronouncing himself he has managed to cloud what will happen, whether he will stay or not. Meanwhile tensions are high and on the rise.
Dialogues, inclusive and non-inclusive, have taken place; To no avail. The population seems to be determined. They will respect the Article 64 of the Congolese Constitution which states that:
Tout Congolais a le devoir de faire échec à tout individu ou groupe d'individus qui prend le pouvoir par la force ou qui l'exerce en violation des dispositions de la présente Constitution. Toute tentative de renversement du régime constitutionnel constitue une infraction imprescriptible contre la nation et l'Etat. Elle est punie conformément à la loi.
The Congolese ask Kabila to respect the Constitution and to depart. Manifestations are expected in the different Congolese cities. But we do not know if they will take place or what will really happen. Politicians on both sides of the spectrum have failed their people. They have passed the ball on to the people, yet this time they have not explicitly called for action, as in previous occasions.
The civil society and the diaspora, on the other hand, have called for action. By means of messages, pictures and YouTube video’s, the civil society groups such as La Lucha and Filimbi as well as the Congolese diaspora in different countries have called people to manifest. Protest manifestations were held this weekend in Brussels and Paris, both cities house a big Congolese community.
In the last months pressure has been rising steadily. On September 19 this year, the Congolese went up to the streets to manifest. At that time Internet was not shut down and pictures travelled freely on social media. Again, dozens of Congolese died. The government blamed the opposition, the opposition the government. A month later, on October 19, many were those who presented Kabila a yellow card, warning him to leave. The vocabulary of soccer has grown into a powerful metaphor. Soccer matches have turned into statements against Kabila. The national television saw itself forced, on more than one occasion, to cut the signal when the crowd started singing, “Kabila oyebela, mandate esili”, “Kabila be aware, your term has finished!” Videos were posted on the social media. Last week the national competition league was suspended until further notice. A couple of days later, the government announced that access to Internet would be shut down as from midnight 19 December. Soon after this announcement, the civil society and the diaspora spread messages explaining how to access other types of connections, such as VPN. The intimidating actions are interpreted as government’s fear. The power of the population lies in its determination and its number.
Tensions are high and on the rise. A crisis is foretold. In the last weeks there have been imprisonments, the streets are militarized, RFI signal has been cut and Radio Okapi encounters disturbances. Schools closed down and sent their pupils a week earlier on holidays. Many expats also decided to lengthen their Christmas holidays with a week. The Ndjili airport was crowded, those who could leave and wanted to leave the country, left. Same goes for the Beach Ngobila port on the Congo river where many crossed over to Brazzaville. One of the Central African refugees I met during my fieldwork told me in disbelief, if the people that are ought to protect us, are fleeing to the neighbouring country, what will be our lot?
In an uprising foretold, rumours too abound. They serve as a scapegoat, they spread information where other sources fail to do so, they offer alternative information where there is censure. Yet rumours can create panic. Tensions are high and on the rise. It is said that among the soldiers that parade in Kinshasa, many speak an unintelligible language, not Lingala, nor Swahili, nor French. It is said that some soldiers parade with intimidating dogs. Rumour has it that Kabila has ran away…
People are watching as the chronicle of the foretold uprising unfolds. Yesterday, before the social media was shut down, the Congolese continued posting pictures of themselves in Sunday clothes wishing each other a nice weekend. Others have already started wishing each other Merry Christmas and Happy New Year not knowing when the network will work again. Others express their fear, yet incite one another to fight, poetically. Humour too plays an important role. Humour as an expression of suffering, as a copying mechanism, as an illustration of the politics of smiling and suffering.
Spoke person of government says: “I want to close down”. Facebook friend comments: “Hurry up, he wants to close down”.
The sun rose up this morning as it does every day. I try to imagine how it is to wake up in Kinshasa today. Opening your eyes, realizing the day has come and starting to go about the daily chores: brooming the house, washing the kids, boiling water on charcoal for tea. The streets of Kinshasa are empty today. Only militarized men parade. In the popular neighbourhood of Ndjili shots are heard. Tensions are high and on the rise. The uprising was foretold.
