Police officer dies in DR Congo’s Eid-el-Fitri clash

A policeman has died in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as rival Muslim groups clashed over the location of Eid celebrations.

The divided community had agreed to mark the end of Ramadan together in a show of unity. But tensions soon resurfaced and the leaders of the two groups appeared to change their minds about the joint celebrations.

The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands who had gathered outside the Martyrs’ Stadium.

The head of the Kinshasa police blamed extremists for the violence, which also saw several people wounded and one police vehicle set ablaze.

The Muslim community in the capital is split over who should lead the country’s Muslim federation.

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