- Title: Congo's outgoing president Kabila doesn't rule out running again in 2023
- Date: 9th December 2018
- Summary: KINSHASA, DRC (DECEMBER 9, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, JOSEPH KABILA, ENTERING HIS OFFICE AND SITTING DOWN FOR INTERVIEW KABILA SEEN ON CAMERA SCREEN DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, JOSEPH KABILA, SAYING: "What will be my role after I step down? My role will be to make sure that we don't go back to square one. Square one meaning where we found the Congo 20, 22 years ago. My role will be to do that by advising, by giving all the necessary information, advice to be taken or not taken so that we don't go back to the years that should be history in this country." KABILA LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, JOSEPH KABILA, SAYING: "Why don't we wait for 2023? In order for us to envision anything (REPORTER: "So you don't rule it out?") No, ruling out in politics, in life in fact, you shouldn't rule out anything because anything and everything is possible. But the question is, what's the bigger picture? It’s not just a matter of running in 2023 or 2024 or whatever. No I don't think so. So, in life as in politics I don't rule out anything." KABILA TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, JOSEPH KABILA, SAYING: "We took time to organise these elections because we wanted these elections to be perfect. That is one of the reasons. We are intent on making certain that the elections are as close to perfection as they can possibly be. Meaning that security wise, the security of the electoral process will be catered for, meaning that the security of all the candidates will be catered for, prior to the elections, the day of the elections and beyond the elections. Observers who think that these elections will not be free and fair, well I am yet to see those observers come and state where they think we still lack or are lagging behind. As for the voter... what do you call it? The voter machine (REPORTER: "Voting machine.") The voting machine, in fact I don't even call it a voting machine because it is not a voting machine. It's a printer. It prints out the ballot paper and it is the ballot that will be counted. To me as of now I am satisfied, quite a lot of other observers are satisfied that the electoral process is on course. If you consider the campaign, we are half way through the campaign period and we have not seen any major incidents." KABILA TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, JOSEPH KABILA, SAYING: "Regrets I always never want to talk about regrets (LAUGHS). I never want to talk about regrets because I believe that each and everything happens for a reason. We've managed to give the best that we could for our country. That was in itself a task and a mission. Secondly do we have any regrets no, not at all. But our achievements... (REPORTER: "You're biggest accomplishments?) Biggest accomplishments? No, there are so many big accomplishments. The biggest you might just as well say is that we managed in 2001, 17 years ago and later in 2003 to reunify this country and put it back on the right track. So whatever happens or whatever will happen between now and forthwith is definitely because of us putting the Congo back on track. I believe that is one of the biggest achievements." KABILA SMILING SAYING HE IS NOT WORRIED VARIOUS OF KABILA TALKING TO JOURNALIST
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2018 15:44
- Keywords: Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila elections Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary DRC
- Location: KINSHASA, DRC
- City: KINSHASA, DRC
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Reuters ID: LVA0019A82ZIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The president of Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, plans to stay in politics when he steps down after elections on Dec. 23 and does not rule out running again for president in 2023, he told Reuters in an interview on Sunday (December 9).
The long-delayed elections will mark Congo's first democratic transfer of power and an end to Kabila's rule that began in 2001 after the assassination of his father.
Kabila, 47, was due to step down in 2016 at the end of his constitutional mandate. But the election to replace him was repeatedly delayed, igniting protests in which dozens were killed.
Until recently it was unclear if he would seek a third consecutive term. He will be eligible to run again in 2023 after a break.
The delay in elections has coincided with a breakdown in security across much of the mineral-rich country. Militants fight over land and resources in the east near the border with Uganda and Rwanda. The violence has allowed an Ebola outbreak to spread to become the second largest ever recorded.
International observers say insecurity will make holding elections difficult in the vast equatorial country and create the opportunity for Kabila's coalition to cheat, especially with the use of new voting machines. Kabila said Congo is ready and that the polls will be fair. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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