Tag: GreatLakesNews

{The political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resumed on Wednesday after hitting a snag on Tuesday.}

One of the opposition parties, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), a party formed by Jean Pierre Bemba who is on trial at the Hague, on Tuesday announced it was withdrawing from the political process.

The move by the MLC was to protest what it considered an under representation in the political process aimed at averting a major political crisis before the end of the year.

The MLC had two representatives taking part in the process instead of the four it had requested. Other parties in the process have at least 5 representatives participating in the dialogue.

The MLC however returned to the talks on Wednesday afternoon after some adjustments were made to accommodate another one of its members, bringing its total number of representative to three.

The leadership of the MLC is also unhappy about what it describes as the ‘dominance’ of the Rassemblement, the main opposition coalition led by veteran politician Etienne Tshisekedi, in the process.

The political dialogue been spearheaded by the Catholic Bishops Conference is seen as the last chance to avert chaos in the DRC before president Kabila’s term officially expires on December 19.

It aims to find a compromise to pave way for a period of political transition between December 20 when president Kabila’s term ends and the election of his successor.

In October the majority and a faction of the opposition reached an agreement to defer the presidential election in the DRC to an indefinite date and make provision for president Kabila to remain in power in return for the appointment of an opposition Prime Minister. But the opposition has rejected this agreement.

The current negotiations are thus aimed at reaching a consensus between the signatories of the October agreement and those who have rejected the “national dialogue” that led to the compromise.

{With less than a week to go before President Joseph Kabila’s second term ends, the Catholic Church is hoping to broker an agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s political actors in a bid to avoid bloodshed.}

President Kabila has been in power since 2001 and served two full terms, as permitted by the Congolese constitution. Kabila is due to stand down on 19 December, but he has been accused of manoeuvring to ensure he can remain in power indefinitely.

Commentators believe the president may have reservations about stepping down because of fears he may face charges for alleged crimes and may be distressed about his personal security or his wealth being cut off.

As the fateful date looms, the future of the largest country in Africa is being played on the second floor of a small building in the capital Kinshasa’s city centre at the Diocesan Centre of DRC’s powerful Catholic church, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco).

IBTimes UK exclusively spoke to Père Clément Makiobo Malelo, executive secretary of the DRC Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission, as he waited to enter the national dialogue room at Cenco’s offices.

“The church’s mission is to work towards the emergence of the rule of law, and for peace. Every time the country has faced issues, the church did not withdraw within itself but instead committed to help the DRC to recover and arise,” Makiobo Malelo said. “In the eyes of many Congolese, it is absolutely normal that the church would take this initiative to reach out to political actors and invite them to be responsible in the face of the great dangers facing the DRC.”

‘The Congolese people is waiting for change’

Highlighting how Cenco’s stance is “biased” towards the side of the Congolese people, the clergyman said: “The aspirations of the people is where our interests lay.”

The Catholic mission has not hidden its inclination towards ensuring upcoming elections are not delayed, and has been outspoken on the subject of Kabila’s future.

Makiolo Malelo added: “When we look back to the recent events that have unfolded here in the DRC, we can see that the people is expecting a great deal from a political alternance [changeover], they want transparent, democratic and appeased elections. The Congolese people is waiting for change, and improvements in its welfare especially with regards to its social needs, access to drinking water, electricity, healthcare, education – these are all things the Congolese people is waiting for. But in order to achieve this, they believe the elections – even if they don’t solve everything – can be a gateway to a responsible and democratic governance.”

Cenco has been mediating talks between Kabila’s political alliance, the presidential majority (MP) and the Rassemblement, a broad coalition of opposition groups. The mediation is seen as the last chance to prevent the DRC from erupting into violence on 19 December, when some in Congo have pledged to remove Kabila from office. It suspended its involvement after a brutal crackdown on 19 September protests which left more than 50 dead. If Cenco also refused to sign the 18 October political agreement – boycotted by the Rassemblement – it agreed to find a way to reconcile all different political parties.

Commentators have admitted reservations about the success of this potential eleventh minute accord, but Makiobo Malelo said the Catholic Church’s role relative to the state could ensure unrest is prevented.

“To understand the role of the Cenco and the church’s implication in the political life would be difficult in a country such as the United Kingdom. In DRC, however, since Independence, it is the Church which has organised most structures, including education, and who has helped educate the Congolese elite who is today in power,” the clergyman explained.

“Cenco has a code of conduct: first, as actors of Cenco and the Catholic Church, we don’t get involved in politics and so we have no interest at stake other than the nation’s interest. We are not candidate for a position, and this gives us much more freedom.”

{The United States and the EU on Monday imposed sanctions on top DR Congo officials after clashes with protesters against President Joseph Kabila in September left more than 50 people dead.}

DR Congo — once ruled from Brussels as a Belgian colony — immediately slammed the EU move as an “illegal” throw-back to imperial days, warning it would take unspecified action against them.

Washington had previously targeted several senior figures close to the president and on Monday added Deputy Prime Minister Evariste Boshab and Kalev Mutondo, head of the national intelligence agency, for rights abuses.

“The Congolese government continues to undermine democratic processes in the DRC and to repress the political rights and freedoms of the Congolese people, putting the long-term stability and prosperity of the country at risk,” the US Treasury said in a statement.

European Union foreign ministers had made clear in October they would go ahead with sanctions if Kabila showed no sign of leaving office when his term ends on December 19.

The 28-nation bloc accordingly hit seven officials with travel bans and asset freezes for their role in the September deaths when the security apparatus “exercised a disproportionate use of force,” a statement said.

The seven included army commander Major General Gabriel Amisi Kumba, former inspector of police General John Numbi, and Celestin Kayama, chief of police, who were previously sanctioned by the United States.

{{IMPERIAL LAW}}

The bloc also listed Ilunga Kampete, head of the president’s Republican Guard; Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo, commander of the anti-riot squad; Roger Kibelisa, in charge of internal security and Delphin Kaimbi, alias Kahimbi, who ran military intelligence.

The EU said it would follow developments in DR Congo very closely and further sanctions “may be considered in the event of further violence or the political process being impeded”.

It also called on the government to cooperate with a “transparent and independent investigation” to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.

Last week, the Catholic Church launched “reconciliation talks” in an effort to broker a deal between the opposition and Kabila on holding new elections.

The EU wants polls and a new government to ensure stability in DR Congo, a mineral-rich and strife-torn former Belgian colony which sits astride Africa’s strategic crossroads.

Kabila first took office in 2001 after the assassination of his father Laurent-Desire Kabila and a 2006 constitutional provision limited the presidency to two terms.

Kinshasa immediately condemned the move.

“(These sanctions) are illegal because they are a sort of imperial law that is at odds with international law. The DRC, a non-European country, condemns them and intends to take action against them,” said government spokesman Lambert Mende.

{President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday gave a tough warning against possible election violence.}

He told politicians to settle poll-related grievances through the courts instead of inciting supporters to cause chaos.

Addressing the last Jamhuri Day celebrations of his current term, eight months to the General Election, the President also warned foreign governments against interfering in local politics. He said that Kenyans should be allowed to make independent decisions on who should lead them.

“In the United States, following the last election, much has been said about potential foreign interference with the electoral process. We are also going into elections next year. There is already money coming into Kenya from abroad in the guise of supporting good governance or civic education.

However, its true intention is to influence our electoral choices,” he said in his speech at the Nyayo National Stadium. The event was televised while the President’s speech was also read in all the county headquarters.

The President said that Kenyans should not forget what happened in 2007-2008 after political differences escalated into ethnic hatred, leading to the post-election violence in which 1,133 people were killed. Another 650,000 displaced from their homes.

The violence led the International Criminal Court to open charges against six Kenyans, including President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, who were serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet minister, respectively, at the time.

On Monday, the President made it clear that Kenya would be rethinking its relationship with the court in The Hague.

“I do not have to remind you what disunity looks like,” President Kenyatta said. “We know all too well what happened the last time we failed to treat each other as one family. So I will close by asking every Kenyan one single thing: in 2017, I ask you to be your brother’s keeper.”

On ICC, the President said: “Our experience at the ICC demonstrated a glaring lack of impartiality in this institution. We have started to see many more nations openly recognising that the ICC is not impartial. Some have withdrawn. Others have considered that step. Twice, our Parliament has passed motions to withdraw.

“We have sought the changes that will align the ICC to respect for national sovereignty. Those changes have not been forthcoming. We will, therefore, need to give serious thought to our membership.

“The ICC is only one instrument in seeking to shape the choices of free people.”

Even as he spoke, in at least seven counties, the supporters of rival political leaders clashed, in some instances violently, an indication of what 2017 could look like unless the violence is checked.

VIOLENT CLASH

The most violent clash was in Meru, where Governor Peter Munya’s supporters and those of Senator Kiraitu Murungi clashed openly. Confrontations were also reported in Mombasa, Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisii, Migori and Garissa.

President Kenyatta said that even when people differ politically, violence should not be the only way to solve problems. He particularly challenged the youth not to be used by political leaders to cause mayhem.

The President said the future of Kenya belongs to the youth and it is the responsibility of all leaders to prepare them to be the new heroes.

Said President Kenyatta: “We will disagree robustly because we are a democracy. But that disagreement will have limits. We will not fight.

“We know that no family ever sees things all exactly the same way. But even when we disagree at home, we don’t burn the house down. Fellow Kenyans that is the story of next year.”

Even as he asked voters to re-elect him, he challenged his opponents to accept the results and pledged that he too will respect the outcome if he is defeated.

“We will either accept the results, or challenge them following the legal means laid down for that purpose. Those who win will use their offices to serve in humility,” he said.

GOVERNMENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS

The President also enumerated the achievements of the Jubilee administration, which took power in 2013.

He said the government had made huge investments in education where it has ensured every public primary school has electricity. He said the Government has worked hard to reform the education system and to preserve the integrity of national examinations.

He said investments in technical education had also been increased to form the foundation for industrialisation.

“The objective of all these efforts is to create a sufficient number of jobs for the young people we have educated,” he said.

He efforts to industrialise the country were in top gear and that a motor vehicle assembly plant in Thika is expected to produce the first VolksWagen car to be assembled in Kenya. This, he said, is expected at the end of December.

“Plants that had once lain dormant have been refurbished. For example, the first phase of the revival of Panpaper is due for commissioning. And by the time we meet again to celebrate Jamhuri, the revival of Rivatex will be complete.”

On digital learning, President Kenyatta said that about 80,000 teachers have been trained and digital content finalised. By next year, every child from Standard One to Three will have access to the digital devices, bringing digital learning to every corner of the republic.