The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday announced its decision to expel the EU envoy to the country.
The expulsion was in retaliation for the EU’s sanctions against 14 DR Congo officials. Those sanctions were announced on December 10.
The European Union foreign ministers extended a travel ban and asset freeze on the 14 officials over “the obstruction of the electoral process and the related human rights violations.”
Among those affected by the sanction was Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary who is the ruling coalition’s candidate for this month’s elections.
AFP reports that the Foreign Minister Leonard She Okitundu said “The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo urges the European Council to proceed without fail in recalling its head of mission within 48 hours.”
She Okitundu held a meeting with foreign envoys saying the DRC had “patiently” sought to persuade the EU to either drop or suspend the sanctions “until the elections in the DRC had been held.”
He said “This measure (by the DRC) on one side punishes the reprehensible behaviour (of the EU) and on the other comes under the framework of reciprocity.”
Meanwhile the European Union has also condemned DR Congo for expelling its ambassador. The EU called the move “completely unjustified”.
An EU spokesperson told AFP that the Union “regrets this decision and considers it as completely unjustified”.
“On the eve of very challenging elections in DRC, such a decision can only be considered counterproductive.”
DR Congo is set to hold crucial elections on Sunday after several postponements. The elections is to allow voters to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila.
Source: Africafeeds.com
