Democratic Republic of Congo: Presidential election slated for April 29, 2018

Under terms of deal, Kabila to hand over office to new president on May 9, 2018

Participants in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s “national dialogue” agreed Monday, in the absence of the main opposition coalition, to push back to April 2018 the presidential election due to take place before the end of the year.

The deal, reached during talks in Kinshasa, ensures a smooth transition when Kabila steps down in 2018.

“The presidential, legislative and local elections will be held 6 months after they are convened on October 30, 2017,” former Togolese prime minister and talks facilitator Edem Kodjo said in a statement.

“The presidential election will take place on April 29, 2018 and the transfer of power from the outgoing president to the incumbent will take place on May 9,” opposition negotiator Vital Kamerhe told reporters.

The leader of the parliamentary group representing Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) confirmed the announcement.
“The election will be held in 2018,” Ramazani Shadari said, adding that “all the details” of the deal would be disclosed on Tuesday.

The main opposition coalition – “Rassemblement” (Gathering) – boycotted the talks, however, branding them a ploy by Kabila to stay in power beyond the end of his term. Even prior to Monday’s accord, the coalition had made clear that it would not accept any decisions announced by dialogue representatives.

Under the terms of the deal, a new government would be set up, with the key post of prime minister handed to an opposition figure, chief negotiator Kodjo said.

The national dialogue began on September 1 between the ruling majority, representatives of civil society and a minority fringe of the opposition to try to sketch a way forward.

Source: AFP