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On 20 December The
On 20 December The
On 20 December The
he would not leave office despite the end of his term. Protests subsequently broke out across the
country which has never had a peaceful transfer of power since its formation in 1960. The protests
were met with the government blocking social media[7] and violence from security forces which left
dozens dead. Foreign governments condemned the attacks against protesters.
On 23 December a deal was reached between the main opposition group and the Kabila regime
under which the latter agreed not to alter the constitution and to leave office before the end of 2017.
[8]
Under the agreement tienne Tshisekedi will oversee that the deal is implemented and the
country's Prime Minister will be appointed from the opposition.[9]
Contents
[hide]
1Background
2Events
4International reactions
5References
Background[edit]
In the wake of the 2014 Burkinab uprising, the Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced a
series of protests (e.g. the 2015 Congolese protests) in which Congolese citizens demanded that
President Joseph Kabila not alter the presidential term limits in the country's constitution so that he
could run for another term in office and not delay the country's planned elections. [10] These protests
and others in 2016 were often violent and took place within the broader context of frequent mass
protests against authoritarian governments in Africa (e.g.
in Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon).
In 2016 Kabila's government was mentioned in the Panama Papers and it asked and received
permission from the country's constitutional court to allow Kabila to remain in power after his term
ended if a successor had not been elected.[11] Following protests in mid-2016 and calls by members
of the opposition to hold talks Kabila's government announced the appointment of several nominally
opposition politicians into cabinet posts but continued to claim that elections would be impossible to
hold due to financial constraints and that the earliest possible date for elections would be April 2018.
[12]
In September, the United States imposed financial sanctions on two of Kabila's advisors, Major
General Gabriel Amisi Kumba and John Numbi, preventing the two from accessing assets within the
US and engaging in financial transactions with US citizens.[13] In December, the United States
Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control added Interior Minister variste
Boshab and intelligence agency leader Kalev Mutondo to its sanctions list,[14] while the European
Union froze assets and banned travel of Ilunga Kampate, leader of the DRC's Republican Guard, as
well as six more unnamed officials.[15]
Events[edit]
On 14 December 42 people were arrested in Goma according to Human Rights Watch.[16] Meanwhile,
an anti-Kabila protest was held outside the University of Kinshasa.[16]
International reactions[edit]
Belgium: The Belgian government said it would review its relationship with the DRC. [24]
France: The French government called on the European Union to review its relationship
with the DRC.[24][25] The foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said, "We cant continue to pretend as
if nothing is happening".[24]
Germany: The German foreign office stated on 21 December that "The negotiations on
development cooperation scheduled to take place next year will be postponed indefinitely. The
German Government reserves the right to take further steps."[26]
United Kingdom: Tobias Ellwood, the British Minister for Africa and the Middle East, said,
"The government must urgently set a date for timely elections to prevent the situation from
escalating further."[24]
United States: The American government released a statement saying, "We remain
ready to impose additional sanctions on those whether government or opposition who
perpetrate violence or impede DRCs democratic institutions".[24]
References[edit]
1.
2.
3.
Jump up^ "Members of the Congolese community in Belgium clash with police in anti-Kabila
protests". CCTV Africa. 20 December 2016.
4.
Jump up^ "Opposition says Congo politicians agree Kabila transition deal". Reuters. 23
December 2016.
5.
Jump up^ "Congo forces killed 40, arrested 460 in Kabila protests - U.N". Reuters. 23
December 2016.
6.
Jump up^ "Congo forces killed 40, arrested 460 in Kabila protests - U.N". Reuters. 23
December 2016.
7.
8.
Jump up^ "Opposition says Congo politicians agree Kabila transition deal". Reuters. 23
December 2016.
9.
Jump up^ "Opposition says Congo politicians agree Kabila transition deal". Reuters. 23
December 2016.
10.
Jump up^ "Congo forces arrest dozens after deadly anti-Kabila protests". Reuters. 22
December 2016.
11.
Jump up^ "Kabila's Strengths and Vulnerabilities as DRC Deadline Nears". International
Crisis Group. 11 December 2016.
12.
13.
Jump up^ Burke, Jason (28 September 2016). "US imposes sanctions on top DRC officials
after election delay". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
14.
Jump up^ "Treasury Sanctions Two Congolese Government Officials". United States De