Provincial Authorities Ban C64's Sept 15 March in Lubumbashi, Kananga, Kisangani; Coalition Vows to Proceed

Ahead of the opposition Coalition Article 64's nationwide march planned for Sept 15 against Tshisekedi's constitutional referendum push, local authorities in several provinces moved to ban it. Lubumbashi's interim mayor Joyce Tunda banned the march on Sept 11, citing the need to 'preserve public order and social peace' and noting that public demonstrations were prohibited citywide; C64 rejected the order as unconstitutional, invoking Article 26's freedom-of-assembly guarantee and noting it had formally notified the mairie on Sept 7. Similar bans followed in Kananga (citing the suspension of political gatherings) and in Kisangani, where Tshopo governor Paulin Lendongolia invoked Ebola-related public-health restrictions on gatherings. Haut-Katanga police also barred the march. C64 said it would proceed regardless in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and other cities, while in Lubumbashi Gen. Blaise Kilimbalimba placed troops on alert citing rising insecurity, and the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) urged the march go forward as democratic expression rather than confrontation.