DRC opposition says cancelling elections would be declaration of war

Record ID: 898738

  • Title: DRC opposition says cancelling elections would be declaration of war
  • Date: 10th July 2017
  • Summary: KINSHASA, DRC (JULY 10, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POSTER OF LATE UDPS LEADER ETIENNE TSHISEKEDI
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2017 00:07
  • Keywords: DRC opposition election
  • Location: KINSHASA, DRC
  • City: KINSHASA, DRC
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016P4ZHON
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The DRC's opposition group Le Rassemblement accused on Monday (July 10) the Electoral Commission President of declaring war on the Congolese people by announcing that elections would probably not possible by the end of the year.
    Reading a statement by opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi, the son of the late UDPS (Union for Democracy and Progress) opposition party leader Etienne Tshisekedi, the Rassemblement's raporteur Baudouin Bwasa demanded elections be held before the end of the year.
    The president of Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission Corneille Nangaa told France's TV5Monde on Sunday that a vote to replace President Joseph Kabila will probably not be possible this year, violating a deal that let Kabila stay on past the end of his mandate.
    Kabila's refusal to step down at the end of his second elected term in December sparked protests that killed dozens of people.
    Tshisekedi's statement said the opposition would call on July 22 for mass action against the decision during the final round of its conclave.
    Under the accord struck on Dec. 31 between Kabila's representatives and opposition leaders, Kabila, in power since 2001, is also barred from trying to change the constitution to stand for a third term.
    However, Kabila has said only the electoral commission can schedule the vote once it finishes enrolling millions of voters.
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