{President Joseph Kabila has ordered the United Nations Mission in DRC known by the French acronym, MONUSCO, to start preparations to leave the war-torn country, Chimp Corps report.}
In a speech to the nation on Monday, Kabila said, “MONUSCO’s role has changed” and that the military force’s core mandate is now “focused more on eliminating the remaining pockets of resistance posed by remnant negative elements” in Eastern Congo.
This was the first time Kabila was speaking boldly against MONUSCO which helped to defeat the M23 rebellion that threatened his hold on power in 2012.
Kabila said MONUSCO should now “start the withdrawal phase” as soon as possible. MONUSCO is yet to respond to the fresh developments.
The comments which were apparently aimed at scoring political points at home could stir international anger against Kabila’s government.
Scores of innocent civilians were recently massacred in Eastern Congo by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
And while Congolese forces have managed to pound ADF bases with heavy artillery, the entire high command of the rebel outfit under its extremist leader, Jamil Mukulu, remain intact.
Without mentioning the proposed constitutional amendments to allow him stand for a third term in office, Kabila said he will not “take any lectures or orders from our partners in the international community on our internal affairs.”
Kabila said he is “open to constructive ideas, advice and support which is given to our country in a dignified way.”
In October, violence broke out in the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, with opposition activists putting up stiff resistance against Kabila’s plans of amending the Constitution to entrench his presidency.
Kerry warns
The riots came just a few months after United States Secretary of State, John Kerry warned Kabila on the dangers of sticking onto presidency and the urgent need to “respect the constitutional process.”
Carrying banners denouncing what they described as Kabila’s ‘authoritarian regime’, anti-government protesters held a march in Kinshasa which saw security forces use teargas and bullets to disperse the crowds.
The protests were held in several towns including Butembo in North Kivu where three people were reportedly injured in street battles with police.
The President of the opposition Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), Vital Kamerhe, promised to mount more pressure on Kabila to quit at the end of his term of office.
“Kabila must avoid the ‘Congo Spring’ by leaving the Presidency in 2016,” said Kamerhe in reference to a wave of revolutions that toppled dictatorial regimes in North Africa in recent years.
He said several protesters had been detained by security.
This year, Kerry held a meeting with President Kabila and his foreign Minister Tshibanda, on the upcoming elections.
Kerry said he believed “the president’s legacy is a legacy that is very important for the country, and that he has an opportunity, which he understands, to be able to put the country on a continued path of democracy.”
The top U.S. official further stated: “And I believe it is clear to him that the United States of America feels very strongly, as do other people, that the constitutional process needs to be respected and adhered to. That’s how you strengthen a country.”
Kabila won’t take lectures
Kabila today told his country that “the people of Congo are heirs of Kimbangu and Lumumba”, implying they are ready to fight for the country’s sovereignty.
Prophet Simon Kimbangu was the most important of the prophet founders in the independent church movement of DRC. Patrice Lumumba was the famous Congolese independence leader and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the vast and wealthy country.
Insisting he would not tolerate any lectures from the west on the country’s political processes, Kabila, however, assured citizens’ freedom to discuss the contentious matter.
He also spoke on decentralisation, saying several bills will be tabled in Parliament for debate.
Kabila paid tribute to Congolese soldiers killed on the battlefield in Eastern Congo as well as doctors fighting the spread of Ebola in the country.
“The endless wars in the country continue to impede economic growth but our gallant forces will neutralise all the negative elements in the country,” he noted.
Chimpreports
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