The Southern African Liaison Office

The Southern African Liaison Office

International liaison, dialogue and research.

DRC News Briefs 

DRC – 27 May 2016

SALO

Pressure builds for Democratic Republic of Congo election

International pressure is building on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) president to put a plan in place for elections, raising the possibility of sanctions against members of the ruling elite.

European Union (EU) foreign ministers briefly discussed the situation on Monday, after urging the DRC’s government to “revive as soon as possible the electoral process.” Senior officials said there was no discussion of sanctions at the meeting.

The DRC’s vote is currently scheduled for November, but few expect it to actually take place until 2017 after apparent foot-dragging on the part of the government.

BDLive

 

Scores arrested in Democratic Republic of Congo clashes

Police and demonstrators have clashed in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid growing fears that elections scheduled for later this year will be postponed.

One protester died during running battles in Goma, the largest city in the east, while security forces in the capital, Kinshasa, fired teargas at an opposition march.

Opposition parties and civil society groups had called for nationwide demonstrations to protest against a ruling earlier this month by Congo’s highest court that would allow President Joseph Kabila to remain in power if presidential and parliamentary elections due in November are not held.

The Guardian