DRC

Congo opposition splits threaten first peaceful power transfer

Kinshasa, 2 June 2015 - Personal ambition and dissent within Democratic Republic of Congo's largest opposition party could offer President Joseph Kabila a chance to hang onto power when his term ends, threatening the nation's first peaceful transition.

Splits within the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the oldest and traditionally most vociferous opposition party, are marking a turbulent run up to elections due in 2016, when Kabila is meant to step aside after two elected terms.

Following decades of conflict and misrule, Congo is trying to stamp out remaining pockets of rebellion and build on relative stability that has helped it to lure investors and rival Zambia as Africa's top copper producer.

However, violent protests in January over whether Kabila might try to stay on showed the potential for trouble in the giant nation, whose past bouts of conflict have sucked in nations across central Africa.

Since its foundation in 1982, the UDPS has stood up first to long-time ruler Mobutu Sese Seko and then Laurent Kabila, who ousted him in 1997 and was the current president's father.

However, the man who has led the party from the outset, Etienne Tshisekedi, is now 82 and receiving medical treatment abroad. During this absence, his son Felix has divided the party by accepting an offer of dialogue from Kabila that some UDPS members and most other opposition parties have rejected as a tactic to delay the presidential vote.

Another African giant, Nigeria marked its first democratic transition of power with the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday. But Congo has yet to achieve such a handover since independence from Belgium in 1960 and its record of violence is grim. One study estimated that 5.4 million people died in the decade to 2008 alone from a range of conflicts plus related disease and malnutrition.

Kabila's spokesman has said the president intends to respect the constitution. But Kabila, who succeeded his assassinated father in 2001 and won elections in 2006 and 2011, has so far refused to comment on his political future after next year.

Jean Omasombo, a Congo expert at the Royal Central Africa Museum in Belgium, said nominating Felix Tshisekedi to a high post could help Kabila to soften public opposition if he tries to stay in office. "Kabila would like to put in place a government that can help him draw closer to public opinion while trying to keep himself in power," Omasombo said.

Excuses for delaying the election could include a lack of funding for the vote, a stalled decentralisation process and violence that persists near Congo's eastern border, but events elsewhere in Africa show they would involve risk.

In Burkina Faso, an attempt to change the constitution provoked a revolution last year while Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has faced protests and a coup attempt over his own push for a third term.

FAMILY POLITICS

Felix Tshisekedi said talks - proposed by a Kabila envoy in May - are aimed at ensuring a series of local, regional and national elections are well organised. Opposition leaders have repeatedly dismissed the timetable as unrealistic.

He rejects suggestions that he wants to join Kabila's government. "It is not a question for us of going to discuss a government of national unity or transition. No, no, three times no," he told Reuters in a sparsely furnished office at his home in Limete, a Kinshasa district and opposition stronghold.

Many party stalwarts still accuse Felix and his mother, Marthe, of a power grab while the state of his father, nicknamed "the Sphinx", remains unclear outside the family.

Francois Tshipamba Mpuila, a founder of the UDPS, criticised the Tshisekedi family from Belgium, where he leads the party’s national federation. "For them, the party ... is a private and exclusive property of their biological family," he wrote, accusing family members of striking a deal with Kabila.

Albert Moleka, Etienne Tshisekedi's former chief of staff and spokesman, left the party this year after accusing family members of stopping him seeing his ex-boss.

Moleka also suspects Tshisekedi Senior’s signatures on official statements have been doctored. "The mother always wanted her son to become a minister," he said.

SPHINX TO RETURN?

Etienne - seldom seen without his flat cap before his treatment - still commands authority in the party for his long career in opposition including to Mobutu, when he earned the Sphinx nickname for not speaking much but causing a lot of trouble when he did.

Last month he endorsed the idea of talks in a statement issued from Belgium, and Felix has dismissed talk of schisms as posturing by those looking to replace his father.

Felix says his father suffers from diabetes and hypertension, but insists he will return home to run in the election next year, despite Moleka's assertions that the illness is more serious and will prevent this.

Party supporters have never accepted Etienne's defeat by Kabila in 2011, an election that European Union observers deemed "not credible" due to fraud.

Felix Tshisekedi said international mediation was needed to ensure Kabila sticks to any promises secured in the dialogue.

Much of the UDPS rank and file, whose admiration for the elder Tshisekedi is matched only by their hatred of Kabila, dislike the conciliatory stance towards the president.

Some senior party members have even begun informal talks on a new leadership, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Others, though, resort to hyperbole in describing their hopes for a triumphal return of the Sphinx.

"Without him, it’ll be the death of all the Congolese people," said Francois Nkunza, a lawyer and UDPS member.

RDC: les chefs religieux exigent un consensus sur le calendrier electoral

Source: VOA

Le président Joseph Kabila les a reçus lundi à Kinshasa dans le cadre des consultations en vue d’un dialogue national.

1er juin 2015 - Le représentant de la Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (Catholique), l'abbé Léonard Santedi a indiqué, après la rencontre avec le président Joseph Kabila, que les évêques étaient unanimes à réclamer un consensus sur le calendrier électoral.

L’opposition dont une partie refuse de prendre part au dialogue initié par Joseph Kabila, avait, dans son ensemble, rejeté le calendrier électoral de la Commission nationale électorale indépendante (Céni) et en avait proposé un autre.

"Tout dialogue doit se faire dans le respect (...) de la Constitution et surtout des délais constitutionnels en ce qui concerne l'organisation des scrutins", et il faut créer un "climat de confiance" nécessaire pour "réussir le processus électoral", a insisté l'abbé Santedi.

L’opposition accuse le président Kabila de manœuvrer en vue de se maintenir au pouvoir ou d’imposer un troisième mandat alors qu’il en a déjà accompli deux à la tête du pays et que la Constitution en fixe justement la limite à deux.

Le chef de l’Eglise protestante, Mgr Marini Bodo, a, lui aussi, confirmé que le dialogue tournait autour du calendrier des élections.

La Céni vient de prolonger l’enregistrement des candidatures pour les élections locales que l’opposition boycotte dans sa grande majorité.

Le président Kabila prévoit de recevoir mardi l’archevêque de Kinshasa, le cardinal Laurent Monsengwo dont les prises de position pèsent dans l’opinion nationale congolaise.

Joseph Kabila entame les consultations par les confessions religieuses

Source: APA

1er juin 2015 - Le président de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), Joseph Kabila Kabange, a entamé, lundi au Palais de la nation (siège de la présidence de la République) à Kinshasa, les consultations avec les chefs des confessions religieuses, sur les questions d’actualité dans ce pays, dans le cadre du dialogue qu’il a préconisé.

Les chefs de principales confessions religieuses, notamment catholique, protestante, kimbangusite, islamique et Armée du salut se sont ainsi entretenus avec le chef de l’Etat congolais à qui ils ont soumis plusieurs préoccupations relatives notamment aux élections.

La délégation de la Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (CENCO), conduite par son président, Mgr Nicolas Djomo, a dit avoir soumis au président Joseph Kabila notamment les problèmes relatifs au consensus national autour du calendrier électoral, en vue de la restitution de la confiance entre tous les acteurs politiques, à la sécurisation du processus électoral ainsi qu’au respect de la Constitution.

La délégation de l’Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC, église protestante), conduite par son président, Mgr Pierre Marini Bodho, s’est prononcée pour le dialogue ainsi que pour le respect des lois et des institutions du pays.

Quant à celle de la Communauté islamique du Congo (COMICO), elle s’est également dit favorable au dialogue, compte tenu du fait que calendrier électoral, compte des problèmes liés au calendrier électoral. « Oui au dialogue, s’il y a un problème entre les gens, il faut dialoguer. Nous sommes favorables à ce dialogue », a affirmé son représentant.

La délégation de l’Armée du salut a dit s’être entretenu avec le chef de l’Etat congolais sur les élections et le dialogue « qui doit être tenu entre les fils et filles de ce pays ». « Nous devons respecter le calendrier de la CENI, il faut que les fils et filles de ce pays se mettent ensemble pour dialoguer », a déclaré le chef de cette confession à l’issue de l’entretien.

Le programme des consultations prévoyait également l’entrevue ce même lundi entre Joseph Kabila et les chefs coutumiers.

Ces consultations, entamées avec les chefs des confessions religieuses, devront s’étendre à la classe politique, de la majorité au pouvoir et de l’opposition, ainsi qu’à d’autres membres de la société civile.

L’opposition est partagée sur ce dialogue politique, certains partis de la plateforme s’étant déjà prononcés contre sa tenue, notamment le Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC) de Jean-Pierre Bemba, l’Union pour la nation congolaise (UNC) de Vital Kamerhe ainsi que le regroupement de l’opposition républicaine pilotée par le président du Sénat (chambre haute du parlement), Léon Kengo wa Dondo, pendant que d’autres sont favorables à ce dialogue.

La RDC prévoit la tenue en 2015 des élections provinciales, urbaines, municipales et locales et en 2016 les élections législatives et présidentielle.

RDC: départ timoré pour les consultations du président Kabila

Source: RFI

1er juin 2015 - La presse était présente au palais de la Nation, vendredi et samedi, mais aucune trace visible des principaux intéressés. Les confessions religieuses étaient pourtant attendues par le président Joseph Kabila pour le début des consultations prévues dans le cadre du dialogue annoncé depuis quelques jours.

Après les représentants des religions étaient annoncés les acteurs politiques mais les principaux partis d'opposition ont décliné l'invitation. Les diplomates, eux, sont annoncés pour le début de la semaine prochaine. Pourtant, quelques ambassadeurs ont déjà été reçus samedi 30 mai à leur demande.

Mais pour certains observateurs, c’est la forme même de ces rencontres qui semble poser problème: dialogue ou consultations? Certains invités aimeraient avoir des précisions avant de s’engager. Ils sont en effet nombreux à soupçonner quelques pièges qui seraient tendus par le pouvoir au travers de cet exercice.

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BURUNDI

UN envoy urges restraint among all Burundian parties; heads to region for weekend summit on crisis

Source: UN News Centre

29 May 2015 - The United Nations Special Envoy for Burundi today travelled to Tanzania where he hopes an East African community summit over the weekend will help reinforce dialogue among the Burundian parties amid concerns raised by UN agencies that the current political instability and violence puts children at risk and could lead to a humanitarian crisis.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that amid the ongoing crisis in Burundi, children are at risk, especially those who have been exposed to violent clashes and demonstrations along with the more than 60,000 refugees who had fled to neighbouring countries.

“Prolonged insecurity was likely to have a massive impact on an already vulnerable population,” said UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac told the UN press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

At the same briefing, the World Food Programme (WFP) spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs, said the agency is concerned that the political instability in Burundi could lead to a humanitarian crisis.

“It was also affecting food security inside Burundi, which is already one of the poorest and most food insecure countries on earth,” Ms. Byrs said.

In the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, Said Djinnit, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and facilitator of the political dialogue, today called on all Burundian parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from any action that could generate violence and increase tensions.

“Despite persisting divergences on the core issue of the presidential term,” he said, “the parties agreed to pursue their dialogue and have exchanged views on confidence building measures and mutual commitments regarding the management of the electoral calendar, guarantees and measures for the holding of free, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections, and Constitutional political rights and freedoms.”

Mr. Djinnit spoke to reporters today before travelling to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, to participate in the East African Community Summit on Sunday.

The envoy said he hopes the summit will provide further guidance and impetus to reinforce the Burundian dialogue, and called on all Burundian parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from any action that could generate violence and increase tension.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac said that since the start of the crisis five children had been killed by bullet wounds, including one just yesterday morning, and 200 children had been injured since the start of the street protests in and around Bujumbura on 26 April.

He also expressed concern over cases of the unlawful detention of children in prisons and said that UNICEF was working with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to identify children who may have been arbitrarily arrested and unlawfully detained in Bujumbura prisons in an effort to secure their release and reunite them with their families.

WFP spokesperson Byrs said her agency was providing food assistance to more than 60,000 Burundian refugees who fled to Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.