There have been repeated incidents of public protest and suppressive government violence of the protests in the DRC over the past several weeks. Protesters are speaking out against President Joseph Kabila, urging him to declare that he will step down from the presidency and expedite the process of new national elections, both in accordance with an agreement brokered by the Catholic Church in December of 2016. The protests are being organized and led by lay Catholics, and that has given rise to tensions between President Kabila and the Episcopal Conference of the DRC (CENCO). In a recent press conference, Kabila voiced his criticisms of the Church's involvement in political affairs, and in a brief statement CENCO offered a response, noting that they are only being present with their people as they suffer.