AFRICA/DR CONGO - Political tension worsens - the main opposition leader: "within three months Kabila out of the Palace"

Wednesday, 3 August 2016 elections  

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - Tension in the Democratic Republic of Congo worsens after a supporter of the Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social (UDPS) was killed by a military last night, August 2, in Kinshasa, the capital of the Country.
According to a representative of the UPDS the militant wore a shirt with the image of Etienne Tshisekedi, the President of the party and the main opponent of President Josesph Kabila, who returned to the country in late July after two years of absence.
In a crowded rally held on Sunday, July 31, Tshisekedi challenged Kabila saying that "December 19 is the first red line which must not to be crossed. Within that date the electoral body must be convened for the presidential election. Otherwise Mr. Kabila will be accused of high treason. (...) "From this moment the three months' notice to the tenant of the presidential palace has begun: on December 20, the house must be free", referring to the expiry of the presidential term.
The date of the presidential elections has not yet been established while the Constitutional Court ruled that Kabila, who cannot run for a third term, can remain in office beyond the deadline of 20 December pending the vote to elect a new president.
The Electoral Commission has announced that it has begun operations of registration of voters that will last 11 months, making elections impossible to be held by the end of the year.
The European Union has appealed to Congolese parties to start "national dialogue" as soon as possible to get the Country out of the political impasse. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 03/08/2016)


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