AFRICA/DR CONGO - “Yes to dialogue, but with respect for the law”, local Catholic Church on political dialogue

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – "Dialogue is considered the founding principal of democracy and nation". This was said on Tuesday 28 July by the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo (CENCO), Rev. Leonard Santedi. The priest was taking part in a debate organised by CENCO.
The participants, politicians belonging to the Presidential Majority MP, members of the opposition, members of civil society and a group of analysts, discussed goals of political dialogue in Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), the upcoming elections and special session of Parliament.
For Rev. Leonard Santedi, the local Catholic Church is not opposed to the idea of dialogue, but insists on respect for the Constitution. "Yes to dialogue, but with respect for fundamental law ", he said.
Congo’s Constitution deals with the expiry date for the election of a President of the Republic and the number and duration of presidential mandates.
Present at the meeting political analyst professor Philippe Biyoya, affirmed that dialogue is the very principle of community life.
"Dialogue is seen as the active principle of every society. It is the principle which builds harmony in society", said, André Alain Atundu, governing Party spokesman.
However this opinion was not shared by Opposition member Franck Diongo, who considers dialogue "in the present context, deception and a trap".
The local Catholic Church reaffirmed her position (through the Bishops’ Conference) regarding national dialogue promoted by President Joseph Kabila, which “must take place in absolute respect for the current constitutional and institutional framework”, in other words excluding any constitutional change which would enable the outgoing president to stand for election and a third mandate. (see Fides 30/06/2015)
(CE) (Agenzia Fides, 31/07/2015)