Police in Democratic Republic of Congo fired tear gas on Wednesday at thousands of supporters of Moise Katumbi, a leading opposition candidate for president who is being questioned over government allegations of hiring mercenaries. The popular former governor of Congo's copper-mining region is accused of hiring mercenaries, including former US soldiers, in a plot against the republic. The government denies the allegations against Katumbi are politically motivated. Kabila's opponents accuse him of trying to delay the presidential election to hold onto power beyond the two five-year terms allowed by the constitution. Dozens were killed in January 2015 in protests over a proposed revision of the electoral law that critics said was a ploy to keep Kabila in power beyond the end of his mandate.

Source: The Star May 11, 2016 05:00 UTC