Democratic Republic of Congo President
Joseph Kabila has been warned to end his second term in office on Sunday or
risk major violence in the coming days.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement on
Friday calling on him to make a public commitment before the end of his second
term, respect the constitution and leave office.
“There is a grave risk that Congo could
descend into widespread violence and chaos in the coming days, with potentially
volatile repercussions across the region,” the executive director of Human
Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth warned.
He cited as a likelihood of armed conflict: a nationwide mobilization for
large-scale demonstrations beginning on December 19 to pressure Kabila to leave
office, as well as, leaders of armed groups in the eastern part of the country
saying the army and police will no longer be “legitimate” after December 19.
“The country’s brittle security forces could fracture if Kabila relies on
force to stay in power, and Congo’s neighboring countries could become
involved, as they have during past fighting in Congo,” HRW
cautioned.
Kabila is required by constitutional term limits to step down when his
second mandate ends on December 19 but a constitutional court ruled that he can
stay on until a new successor is elected.
Elections have been postponed to April 2018 after the electoral commission
complained of inadequate resources to conduct the process.
The opposition accuse Kabila of manipulating the system to cling on to
power, while a faction of the opposition has agreed and through a national
dialogue, got one of its members appointed Prime Minister.
-Africanews
AEP
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