Hundreds of South Sudanese fighters affiliated to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) crossed into the DRC following fighting in the South Sudanese capital Juba in July (see South Sudan entry). A worsening economic crisis exacerbated already high levels of poverty, and there were outbreaks of cholera and yellow fever resulting in hundreds of deaths. FREEDOMS OF ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY The right to freedom of peaceful assembly was violated, mostly in connection with protests against an extended term for President Kabila. Numerous protests, most organized by the political opposition, were declared unauthorized even though DRC law and international law only require organizers to notify local authorities, not obtain authorization. By contrast, assemblies organized by the Presidential Majority, the ruling coalition, largely took place without interference by the authorities. Blanket bans on public protests were imposed or maintained in the capital Kinshasa, the cities of Lubumbashi and Matadi, and the provinces of Mai-Ndombe (ex-Bandundu Province) and Tanganyika. During the year, 11 activists from the youth movement Struggle for Change (LUCHA) were convicted of offences because they participated in or organized peaceful protests. In addition, over 100 activists from LUCHA and the pro-democracy youth movement Filimbi were arrested before, during or just after peaceful protests. These and other youth movements, who called on President Kabila to stand down at the end of his second term, were branded as insurrectionary. Local authorities declared them “illegal” due to their lack of registration even though neither national nor international law makes registration a precondition for establishing an association. The authorities also prohibited private meetings to discuss politically sensitive issues, including the elections. Civil society and political opposition parties faced 138 obstacles renting facilities for conferences, meetings or other events. On 14 March, a meeting at a hotel in Lubumbashi between Pierre Lumbi, President of the Social Movement for Renewal (MSR), and MSR members was forcefully stopped by the National Intelligence Agency. Government officials, including the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, threatened to close human rights organizations under restrictive interpretations of laws governing NGO registration. EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE Security forces consistently broke up peaceful protests using unnecessary, excessive and sometimes lethal force, including tear gas and live ammunition. On 19 September, security forces killed dozens of people in Kinshasa during a protest calling on President Kabila to step down at the end of his second term. Protests against Kabila’s refusal to leave power broke out again on 19 and 20 December. Dozens of people were killed by the security forces in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Boma and Matadi. Hundreds were arbitrarily arrested before, during and after the protests. Security forces also killed protesters participating in demonstrations over other grievances in Baraka, Beni, Ituri and Kolwezi. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION The right to freedom of expression was restricted and constantly violated in the preelection context.1 Politicians who advocated against an extension of President Kabila’s second term were particularly targeted. Military police detained opposition leader Martin Fayulu for half a day in February while he was mobilizing support for a general strike calling for respect for the Constitution. In May, the police in Kwilu Province prevented him from holding three political meetings. The police prevented Moise Katumbi, former Governor of the then Katanga Province and a presidential aspirant, from addressing public gatherings after he left President Kabila’s party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy. In May, Amnesty International Report 2016/17