Opposition supporters protest postponement of elections in DRC. Photo credit: euro news
Postponement of Presidential Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo
After postponing the presidential election in December 2016, citing lack of the necessary resources to hold a free, fair and credible poll, the electoral commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo further postponed the belated poll in October this year to 2019, worsening an already volatile situation. Although the commission insists that the election will be held once the resources have been put in place, the country’s opposition says the delay is a plan by President Joseph Kabila, whose tenure ended in December 2016, to hold on to power.
Already there is heightened tension across the country, with some experts warning that the East African nation could be headed back to a full-blown civil war. Given that many heads of state in the region have been manipulating the constitution to be able to hold on to power, many believe Mr. Kabila wants to buy time as he figures out a way to change the constitution and be able to run for another term.
