DR Congo protests: Why have they erupted?

The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo appears to be deteriorating.

The headquarters of thee opposition parties have been torched in the capital, Kinshasa, hours after an opposition-organised protest triggered violent clashes with police, leaving at least 17 people dead.

What lies behind the opposition protests? 

Police have vowed to main law and order in DR Congo

The opposition fears that President Joseph Kabila will prove to be similar to some of his regional counterparts by hanging on to power through sleight of hand.

Mr Kabila, 45, is one of Africa's youngest rulers

Their concerns have been fuelled by the fact that the government is laying the groundwork for postponing presidential elections due in November.

Following a case brought by the ruling party, the Constitutional Court - comprising the country's most senior judges - ruled in July that Mr Kabila can remain in office if logistical difficulties force a delay in the elections.

And a delay is likely, as the electoral commission has said it needs at least until July 2017 to register more than 30 million voters in a country similar in size to Western Europe, but with one of the worst transport and communication links in the world.

Opposition supporters say they will not allow Mr Kabila to remain in office beyond the end of the year

And its east is mostly lawless with myriad militias controlling patches of territory, making voter registration more difficult. So far, Mr Kabila is tight-lipped, leaving his political allies to do his bidding for him.

• Kabila unlikely to give up power

Why won't he face the electorate? 

He cannot - and that is his problem. Since taking power following the assassination of his father in 2001, he has won two elections.

The constitution bars him from seeking a third term. So the best way for him to remain in power is to delay the election.

Another option is to lift the two-term presidential limit, but Mr Kabila might struggle to garner a two-thirds parliamentary majority to push through such an unpopular constitutional amendment.

And he may be aware of the fate of other leaders who tinkered with the constitution - especially Burkina Faso's long-serving ruler Blaise Compaore who was overthrown in a popular uprising in 2014 following his bid to alter the constitution so that he could seek re-election.