Students injured in violent protests over tuition fees

Three students were injured, but some feared they had died, as hundreds from the Institute of Applied Technical Studies (Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées – ISTA) protested over a tuition fee hike and new instructions from the institution to pay their tuition fees in US dollars.

The protests, which turned violent, erupted on Monday, 24 February, in the Kinshasa-based university in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The tuition fees at ISTA, set by the government, were increased from FC778,050 (US$272), to FC997,500 (US$349).

What happened?

Sources who witnessed the events said the protests escalated into clashes between students and security forces. The witnesses, however, claimed that the students were killed.

Furious students, who resorted to vandalism during the protest, burned tires, broke the windows of lecture halls, and barricaded the entrances to the campus. This prompted a swift response from law enforcement agencies to restore public order and control the demonstrators.

But students refused to comply with the police and their resistance led to further violent exchanges between the police and protesters, according to the sources.

Projectiles and stones were thrown, and gunfire was heard in videos that quickly went viral on social media. As a result, several individuals were injured.

“We are fighting for equal access to education. We are not only protesting the fee hike but also the dollar-based payment system which is an additional barrier for those who cannot afford it,” said a visibly angry student, who took part in the protests.

“We can’t afford to pay in dollars. It excludes us from education,” he added.

Following the incident, numerous social media posts and local media outlets reported the deaths of the three students. In videos shared on social networks and various local media platforms, images showed students being carried by their peers after being shot.

Official denies deaths

University officials denied that students died during the protest action.

“There were no deaths. However, three individuals were injured and are currently receiving treatment in hospitals. What is true, is that there was a student movement protesting academic fee issues,” said Christophe Lomami, the mayor of Barumbu, the district where ISTA is located.

The Minister of Higher Education and University Affairs, Marie-Thérèse Sombo, visited the affected university on Tuesday, 25 February, to assess the situation.

The minister called for calm and stressed that the issue concerning the fee hike and the order to pay fees in US dollars would be discussed with the university management to find a solution.