COMMENT: By Chris Saunders & Henning Melber What southern Africa can learn from West Africa about dealing with despots? Has the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) just taught the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a lesson? The West African states effectively took a dictator to task after he …
Read More »Congo’s Kabila won’t change constitution to extend mandate , new deal
As Congo prepares for a general election likely to be held by the end of the year, a new deal was on Dec.30 struck by political parties for President Joseph Kabila to step down paving way for the first peaceful transition of power in the central African nation. “The government …
Read More »DRC CRISIS: Kabila gives bishops green light
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | DR Congo President Joseph Kabila gave the green light Wednesday for the Catholic Church to pursue mediation to end the crisis sparked by his refusal to step down, sources said. The country’s influential bishops brokered a New Year’s Eve deal to sketch a timetable …
Read More »Kabila ‘agrees to hand over this year’
Optimism in DR Congo as deal reached to end political crisis Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The new year in one of Africa’s most troubled countries began in a burst of optimism Sunday after rival groups agreed a deal for hauling DR Congo out of a perilous political crisis. …
Read More »New hitches hold up DR Congo crisis deal
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Fresh problems held up efforts by the Catholic Church to forge a deal on Saturday for ending the political crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “The agreement is ready, but this morning all the groups came with new demands for details to be …
Read More »Christmas brings some relief for Kabila and DRC
DR Congo crisis talks suspended, hopes for deal by year end Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Talks to end DR Congo’s dangerous political crisis were suspended on Saturday until after Christmas after a fruitless 48 hours of negotiations over President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to quit power. Kabila’s second and …
Read More »Congo crisis talks on as bishops urge deal by Christmas
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Talks on defusing an explosive crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resumed Wednesday, a day after bloody clashes, as the Catholic church appealed for a deal by Christmas over the future of President Joseph Kabila. The call by bishops sponsoring talks between the …
Read More »Deadly protests in DR Congo as Kabila clings to office
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | At least 11 people died as gunfire erupted during protests on Tuesday in Democratic Republic of Congo against longtime President Joseph Kabila, who is refusing to leave office as his mandate ends. Shots rang out in the capital Kinshasa, where at least nine people …
Read More »Kabila announces new government but protests continue
Gunfire and arrests in DR Congo as Kabila’s mandate ends Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Gunfire erupted in major DR Congo cities and the UN voiced alarm over a wave of arrests, as protesters demanded President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired Tuesday. With fears of violence …
Read More »Troops patrol DRC streets as Kabila’s mandate expires
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | People stayed home across Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, leaving troops to patrol ghost cities as tension peaked hours before President Joseph Kabila’s mandate ends, but with no election in sight. Kabila’s second term expires at midday on December 20, but he …
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