The Congolese opposition on Saturday unveiled a rolling programme of strikes and civil disobedience aimed at forcing President Joseph Kabila from power. The announcement was made after two days of opposition talks in Kinshasa amid concerns that Kabila, in power since 2001, is seeking to remain in place in defiance of constitutional limits. Elections in … Read more
The main opposition party in the DemocraticRepublic of Congo on Monday blasted as a “provocation” and a power grab an announcement that elections to end a deep political crisis in the mineral-rich country will likely not be held this year. The president of DR Congo’s electoral commission, Corneille Nangaa, had told reporters in Paris on … Read more
Congolese President Joseph Kabila named an expanded new government on Tuesday, with almost all his old team retained, as part of power-sharing deal to end a crisis over his wish to remain in power. The presidential list of 60 ministers, read out on television, includes almost all members of the outgoing administration, who keep their … Read more
About 100 riot police surrounded the main opposition party HQ in the DR Congo capital Kinshasa Tuesday, an AFP correspondent said, while a party spokesman claimed authorities wanted to stop them building a tomb for their late leader. A troop transport vehicle was burning outside, while a large tent was also smoking under trees opposite … Read more
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has appointed Bruno Tshibala as the new prime minister of the power-sharing government. Mr Tshibala will be leader until presidential elections later this year. He was expelled from Congo’s largest opposition party, the UDPS, last month after contesting the designation of successors to veteran leader Etienne Tshisekedi who … Read more
Congolese Prime Minister Samy Badibanga formally resigned on Friday, two days after President Joseph Kabila pledged to appoint a new prime minister under a stalled power-sharing agreement with the opposition. “The premier tendered his resignation to the president at 1:00 pm” (1200 GMT), a source in the prime minister’s office told AFP. “The president took … Read more
Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila on Wednesday pledged to appoint a new prime minister in the next two days, in line with a stalled December peace deal struck with the opposition. “The prime minister will absolutely have to be named within 48 hours,” Kabila said in a much-awaited speech to MPs and senators … Read more
Beheadings, mass graves, kidnapped foreigners, child soldiers: a tribal insurrection in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai region has killed hundreds of people and risks further destabilising the fragile central government. Congolese officials face growing international pressure to curb the violence, while the UN Security Council prepares to vote Friday to cut down its peacekeeping … Read more
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition have called for a stay-home stoppage for Monday to force President Joseph Kabila to implement a deal on sharing power. In a statement issued on Wednesday, an umbrella group of opposition parties said they would stage a “ghost town” operation bringing cities to a standstill across the country. The … Read more
The United Nations said Tuesday that nearly three months after a political agreement was signed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, its implementation remains stalled, threatening security and stability. “As long as political dialogue remains in a stalemate, the tensions risk mounting,” Maman Sidikou, the head of the U. N. mission in DRC, MONUSCO, warned … Read more
Uncertainty remains over plans on the national funeral of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s long-time opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who died last month in Belgium at the age of 84. This comes after his family announced that his body will not be repatriated this weekend as planned, after the family and the authorities could not … Read more
The European Union on Monday warned the Democratic Republic of Congo it faces more EU sanctions if political and military leaders block a deal with the opposition on the country’s future. European Union foreign ministers discussed DR Congo amid growing frustration with President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to stand aside at the end of his term … Read more
Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest opposition party said it expelled one of its leaders on Saturday amid infighting that weakens its effort to force President Joseph Kabila to stick to a deal to step down after an election this year. The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) said it dismissed deputy secretary-general Bruno Tshibala … Read more
The son of Etienne Tshisekedi, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s late opposition leader, has been chosen as his father’s successor. Felix Tshisekedi, 53, will now lead the opposition coalition in crucial negotiations over the departure of President Joseph Kabila from office. Under a deal agreed last year, new elections would be held by the end … Read more
The body of Congolese opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi is to be repatriated next week, several weeks after his death, his party said Wednesday, raising hopes of a restart of talks on a deal to end the political crisis. Tshisekedi’s death and the delay over repatriating his body from Brussels have blocked the implementation of a … Read more
The UN has also pointed out lack of investigations by Congolese authorities The UN has accused the Congolese military forces of civilian killings. In a recently published report, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office says that at least 40 civilians were killed and 147 others wounded by law enforcement officials in the Democratic Republic … Read more
The international community on Thursday urged government and opposition parties in Democratic Republic of Congo to restart deadlocked talks to set up a transition regime ahead of elections due late this year. The United Nations, African Union, European Union and the International Organisation of the Francophonie “are increasingly concerned by the continuing impasse in the … Read more
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) cannot afford the cost of holding elections this year. According to Minister of State in charge of Budget, Pierre Kangudia Mbayi, the $1.8bn needed to organize the polls was out of reach. At a press conference held on Wednesday (February 15, 2017) the minister said he doubted if the … Read more
President Kabila’s opponents have accused him of delaying the election in order to remain in power Budget Minister Pierre Kangudia said the cost of organising the poll, which was said to be $1.8bn (£1.5bn), was too expensive. Last year the government and the opposition agreed that new elections would be held by the end of … Read more
The African Union (AU) has expressed sorrow at the death of Etienne Tshisekedi, main opposition chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The 84-year-old veteran politician died on Wednesday evening at age 84 in Belgium’s capital Brussels. The AU extended condolences to the Tshisekedi family, to members of his party, the Union for Democracy … Read more