No end in sight to DRC political impasse

KINSHASA: The roadmap that rival parties endorsed on New Year’s Eve to resolve the impasse in the Democratic Republic of Congo has lurched from one crisis to another, casting doubt on the realisation of elections later this year.

Months after President Joseph Kabila and his rivals reached the agreement after the expiry of his second five-year term, the opposition is beset by divisions while Kabila is capitalising, as he is not in favour of elections.

The recent death of opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi has hampered the nomination of a prime minister and establishment of National Monitoring Council.

Kabila has reiterated his request for three names for prime minister and called for a shift in focus from power-sharing arrangements to the organisation of elections. No date has been set for the polls.

The opposition insists on a sole candidate, in accordance with the political agreement of December 31, 2016.

Disagreement persists between the ruling party and the opposition Rassemblement on the allocation of ministries of foreign affairs, interior, defence and justice in the transitional government.

Funding remains a divisive issue. The government disbursed $180 million (R2.35 billion) of $300m it pledged to the electoral commission to organise the elections.