Beni, Congo, Rabi'I 16, 1438, December 15, 2016, SPA -- Social media will be blocked in Congo starting Monday, in an apparent attempt to prevent protests against President Joseph Kabila, according to dpa. The measure will go into effect at one minute before midnight on Sunday and affect images, videos and voice messages, the country's telecommunications authority said Thursday. It did not say how long the blockage would last nor give a reason. But analysts said it is an attempt to prevent unrest around December 19 - the day Kabila should have relinquished power under the country's original election timetable. Congo was due to hold elections in November, but they were postponed until April 2018 as the authorities cited delays in registering voters. Kabila is not eligible for a third term, and critics regard the postponement as a ploy to extend his stay in office. The postponement sparked protests in which dozens were killed. Kasonga Tshilunde, from the Union of the Congolese Press, said the social media ban appeared to be aimed at restricting the freedom of expression. --SPA 22:26 LOCAL TIME 19:26 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w291705