Kinshasa, DRC
Students at the Kinshasa University campus were given a 24-hour
ultimatum by police in the Democratic Republic of Congo to vacate their hostels
following deadly clashes over the hiking of tuition fees by almost double.
The clashes erupted on Monday after students
were outraged over the hiking of fees for the current academic year to 485,000
Congolese francs ($285) from 253,000 Congolese francs (about $150) the previous
academic year. The students prefer the 164,000 Congolese francs ($96) set by
the Ministry of Higher Education.
One policeman was killed and two
others were injured in the confrontation that saw the university closed by the
government.
The Chief of Staff to President Felix
Tshisekedi, Vital Kamerhe, blamed infiltrators and not the students for the
policeman’s killing, according to local media outlet, actualite.cd news site.
The police’s ultimatum follows one
issued by the government on Tuesday giving students two days to leave and also
end their protests against the move.
A statement by the police said it
will use “all legal means” to clear the campus should any student still be
found having been given the chance to voluntarily leave.
The statement added that any student
found on the grounds will be considered as an enemy of the state in league with
those accused of the killing of the policeman.
AFP reported that some students had
already begun leaving the campus while local media reported that some students
were concerned they will have to sleep in the streets as they live very far
away.
According to Kamerhe, Tshisekedi will
meet a group of students at his next cabinet meeting scheduled for Friday to
discuss the dispute.
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