- Title: Congo's opposition call for more sanctions to force government to hold elections.
- Date: 22nd June 2017
- Summary: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (RECENT) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINING UP IN FRONT OF VOTER REGISTRATION BUREAU HAND HOLDING ID CARD VARIOUS OF VOTER GETTING HIS FINGERPRINTS TAKEN VOTER HAVING HIS PICTURE TAKEN PEOPLE LINING UP OUTSIDE VOTING REGISTRATION BUREAU BANNER READING (FRENCH): "BEFORE I VOTE IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS, I NEED TO FIRST ENROL" KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (JUNE 21, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NZANGI BUTONDO, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND OPPOSITION PARTY MOVEMENT FOR SOCIAL RENEWAL (MSR) WALKING AND TALKING ON HIS PHONE BEFORE HE SITS (SOUNDBITE) (French) MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND OPPOSITION MEMBER OF MOVEMENT FOR SOCIAL RENEWAL (MSR) PARTY, NZANGI BUTONDO SAYING: "I think pressure through these sanctions should continue and for our part, we said that if by July 31 the electoral commission does not release a clear election calendar, which respects the agreement of holding elections by December 31, 2017, then we will start national disobedience protests to push the government to hold elections." KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (RECENT - JUNE 19, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STANDING OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION BULDING EUROPEAN UNION FLAG FLYING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (FRENCH): "A NEW POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CLASS NCPS, CONGO IS NOT A PROVINCE OF EUROPE" MORE OF PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS AND CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PROTESTER, FRANCK LEMBE SAYING: "Belgium owes us a lot. They are in no place to give us lessons. Yes, we accept collaboration but not domination, that's all I have to say to these Europeans." KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (JUNE 20, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CONGO'S INFORMATION MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, LAMBERT MENDE/ JOURNALISTS VIDEO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) CONGO'S INFORMATION MINISTER NAD GOVERNMNT SPOKESPERSON LAMBERT MENDE SAYING: "After the unilateral sanctions that were taken against various political personalities and members of the military, there have been elements who have resorted to spread rumours, not only on social media but also through traditional media, to condemn, with no proof, these patriots. To ruin their reputations but it also makes the country they serve vulnerable." STREET SCENES
- Embargoed: 6th July 2017 14:10
- Keywords: Sanctions opposition politics elections Joseph Kabila European Union
- Location: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- City: KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016MD0UON
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Democratic Republic of Congo's opposition has called on the international community to enforce more sanctions on government leaders to ensure elections take place this year.
The European Union and the United States have already issued sanctions against top government and military officials.
Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, struck a deal in December with Congo's main opposition bloc to stay on after his mandate expired provided he held elections by the end of 2017.
But talks to implement the deal broke down in March when Kabila refused to commit to the bloc's choice of prime minister.
The country has been conducting voter registration throughout the country since last month but critics are skeptic that the presidential poll will take place on time.
The election commission has said technical delays may mean the new deadline has to be pushed back.
Nzangi Butondo, an opposition member from the Movement for Social Renewal (MSR) says opposition members are ready to take protests nationwide if the electoral commission does not provide an electoral calendar by the end of July.
"I think pressure through these sanctions should continue and for our part, we said that if by July 31 the electoral commission does not release a clear election calendar, which respects the agreement of holding elections by December 31, 2017, then we will start national disobedience protests to push the government to hold elections," he said.
Congo's government has repeatedly denounced sanctions as unjustified and illegal, and has threatened diplomatic retaliation.
Government supporters held a protest in front of EU offices in Kinshasa this week, chanting slogans like "Congo for the Congolese".
"Belgium owes us a lot. They are in no place to give us lessons. Yes, we accept collaboration but not domination, that's all I have to say to these Europeans," said one protester, Franck Lembe.
Addressing the media, Congo's Information Minister Lambert Mende, who was himself blacklisted by the EU, criticized the international community for meddling in Congo's affairs.
"After the unilateral sanctions that were taken against various political personalities and members of the military, there have been elements who have resorted to spread rumours, not only on social media but also through traditional media, to condemn, with no proof, these patriots. To ruin their reputations but it also makes the country they serve vulnerable," Mende said.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and nine former African presidents warned last week that the future of DRC is in "grave danger" due to the failure to organise an election to replace President Kabila.
Meanwhile, violence continues in different parts of the country.
On Thursday (June 20), exchanges of heavy weapons fire erupted in the north east between the army and militia fighters, and several students sitting exams were wounded in an explosion at a school, residents said.
According to local activists, the fighting in and around the city of Beni between Congo's army and what is believed to be a new coalition of armed groups, the National Movement of Revolutionaries (MNR), erupted early in the morning and kept residents trapped in their homes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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