Democratic Republic of Congo opposition chief Etienne Tshisekedi, who rejects Joseph Kabila’s re-election as president, had himself “sworn in” at his home Friday as police clashed with his supporters. Tshisekedi, 79, who came second in the November 28 poll, defied a police ban on his “inauguration”, which had been planned for a football stadium in the capital where police fired teargas to prevent the planned ceremony.
The event was moved to Tshisekedi’s Kinshasa home, where police also used tear gas on supporters and officials of his Union for Democracy and Social Progress gathered outside. Kabila, who has been in power since January 2001, was officially sworn-in at a ceremony in Kinshasa on Tuesday.