Strike in Capital, Rebel Activity in East Pressure Zaire’s Leader
Activity in this capital ground to a halt Monday as residents stayed home on the first of two days of protests called by opposition leaders pressing for the ouster of President Mobutu Sese Seko.
Shops, offices, schools and street markets were closed. Only a few pedestrians braved the streets of the central business district. Taxis, buses and private cars were scarce--perhaps in fear of a threat by opposition militants that stones would rain down on vehicles. At a few intersections, protesters set up barricades of burning tires.
Supporters of ousted Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi organized Monday’s protest and also plan demonstrations today, despite a state of emergency imposed by Mobutu’s government last week.
Tshisekedi and the rest of the political opposition here have become, in effect, the unarmed complement to the armed campaign being waged from the east by rebels led by Laurent Kabila.
Both Tshisekedi and Kabila are seeking the end of Mobutu’s 31-year reign.
Kabila’s Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire has seized about a third of Zaire and is slowly pressing toward Kinshasa.
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