The African Union Commission has welcomed an agreement reached by political actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo for an election to be held this year to get a successor to Joseph Kabila.
The chairperson of the commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in a statement posted on her twitter account said this latest agreement “builds on the 18 Oct 2016 agreement & represents a significant step towards a negotiated solution of the political crisis facing the DRC”.
I welcome the agreement reached by the Congolese political actors on 31 December 2016 towards holding free and fair elections in the #DRC.
— Dr Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) January 4, 2017
Opposition leaders in Congo signed the deal with Joseph Kabila’s party last month which will see him step down after this year’s elections.
The deal was secured with the help of Congo’s Catholic Church which mediated in the political crisis that claimed several lives and leaving scores sustaining injuries after Mr. Kabila refused to step down when his tenure expired in December of 2016.
The African Union Commission chief said “I commend all political parties, CSOs & their leaders for the spirit of compromise & sense of responsibility they’ve demonstrated. I commend & congratulate the Congolese National Episcopal Conference of Churches (CENCO) for their mediation efforts”.
Timely implementation of the agreement will be critical towards the holding of elections & preserving stability in the #DRC.
— Dr Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) January 4, 2017
Dlamini Zuma “urged the National Electoral Commission to publish, asap, a new & realistic electoral calendar, in line with political agreements reached”.
She further commended President Kabila for accepting to dialogue to ensure a smooth political transition.
Now is the time for all DRC stakeholders to fully support the Agreement’s implementation, in the supreme interest of the #DRC & its people.
— Dr Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) January 4, 2017
Source: Africafeeds.com
