Two years ago on New Year’s Eve, the Democratic Republic of Congo finally saw a breakthrough in the political impasse that pitted outgoing President Joseph Kabila against opposition leaders who demanded elections. Kabila, having reached the end of his constitutionally limited second term, agreed to a deal brokered through CENCO,…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Congolese opposition politicians are crying foul after a national electoral commission (CENI) decision announced Wednesday that will exclude three large cities and some 1.2 million voters from Sunday’s elections, on the grounds that the Ebola outbreak and community violence pose too much risk. CENI said that Beni, Butembo and Yumbi…
President Joseph Kabila may have stepped aside for the moment, but he hasn’t ruled out a future run in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kabila told media outlets on Sunday that he may contemplate a return to power, with the next presidential election expected in 2023. The Congolese president stubbornly…
Two key Congolese opposition leaders, Felix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe, have pulled out of an agreement to back Martin Fayulu of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development (ECiDé) party as their coalition candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s December 23 election. Both men said they were responding to the…
A group of seven Congolese political opposition leaders announced their decision for a presidential candidate on Sunday, choosing Martin Fayulu of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development (ECiDé) party to face President Joseph Kabila’s own choice in the December 23 election. With the long-delayed date looming in Democratic Republic of Congo,…
A group of seven Congolese political opposition leaders continues a meeting in Geneva this weekend, with the expectation they will name a coalition candidate to face President Joseph Kabila’s own choice in the December 23 election. With the long-delayed date looming in Democratic Republic of Congo, the opposition leaders have…
Opposition leaders in Democratic Republic of Congo plan to move forward with a Kinshasa march on Friday to demand free, fair and credible elections – an outcome they fear is threatened by the use of controversial voting machines and unreliable voter registrations. Vital Kamerhe, the Union for the Congolese Nation…
The electoral commission in Democratic Republic of Congo released on Wednesday its final list of certified presidential candidates, leaving 21 eligible to contest the December 23 elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) approved Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) candidate replacing President Joseph Kabila. They…
In Zambia, a delegation led by the influential leaders of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) met with President Edgar Lungu on Monday to discuss their concerns over the December elections. The delegation asked Lungu, now the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to ensure that the…
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the influential National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) bishops said Tuesday that they are mobilizing thousands of Congolese volunteers to help monitor the elections set for December. The Roman Catholic organization, which has helped to lead peaceful protests against President Joseph Kabila’s regime and…
President Joseph Kabila will not run for a third term in Democratic Republic of Congo’s elections in December, as his PPRD party announced the selection of Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary on Wednesday. Shadary, a Kabila ally and secretary for the ruling party, was named as Congolese candidates met the registration deadline….
Congolese politician Moïse Katumbi was still in neighboring Zambia on Saturday, after hopes for a jubilant welcome at the border turned to dismay when the Democratic Republic of Congo refused to let him enter. The government said Friday that his plane from South Africa could not arrive at the Lubumbashi…
The plans for exiled politician Moïse Katumbi to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday are in question, after local authorities said his plane from South Africa cannot arrive at the Lubumbashi airport without necessary approval of aviation authorities. Katumbi’s “Together for Change” coalition party announced on Monday…
With the announcement that exiled politician Moïse Katumbi will return to the Democratic Republic of Congo to challenge President Joseph Kabila for office, comes a request for his security once he arrives. Katumbi’s “Together for Change” coalition party announced on Monday that their candidate will arrive on Friday at the…
There was much speculation ahead of Congolese President Joseph Kabila’s speech Thursday before the parliament, as the international community waited to hear whether the defiant leader who has since 2016 refused to leave office plans to seek an unconstitutional third term. Claudel Lubaya, a member of the National Assembly with…