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…
As the Democratic Republic of Congo prepares for long delayed elections next week, increasing reports of violence have drawn a response from United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet. Bachelet said Friday that the reports of deaths, attacks and clashes compromise the Congolese people, as she urged that “the rights…
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…
Top-ticket Congolese candidates Felix Tshisekedi, above, and Vital Kamerhe made a high-profile return to Kinshasa on Tuesday, with thousands of supporters crowding the streets in the rain to watch their motorcade come from the airport. While the day was mostly peaceful, there were a few conflicts between police and the…
Official campaigning has kicked off in Democratic Republic of Congo, where long-delayed elections are scheduled for December 23. The national elections commission, CENI, designated Thursday as the start of campaigning for a field of 21 candidates certified in September. Front-runners for the presidency include Martin Fayulu of the Engagement for…
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…