Power, Action, Accountability, Change
We believe in value sharing, bringing together all DR Congolese people, fighting for the just liberation of our country & promoting education, integration and our Congolese culture.
We believe in value sharing, bringing together all DR Congolese people, fighting for the just liberation of our country & promoting education, integration and our Congolese culture.
Marischka Nkashama
09th August 2018
Suite aux multiples pressions internes et externes, Joseph Kabila le mediocre a renoncé à se représenter pour un troisième mandat. Contre toute attente, il a désigné Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary comme candidat de sa plateforme, Front Commun pour le Congo (FCC) à l’élection présidentielle du 23 décembre 2018. Ce dernier a déposé sa candidature ce mercredi 8 août à quelques heures de la clôture des dépôts de candidatures. Ce choix sonne comme une victoire de la population dans sa quête d’une alternance démocratique au sommet de l’Etat mais, la prudence doit être de mise.
« Le peuple a triomphé », « enfin Kabila va partir » sont autant de phrases qui ont été scandées par des habitants de Kinshasa à l’annonce du nom du dauphin de Joseph Kabila. Loin d’être considéré comme un cadeau, cette décision est en réalité une des conséquences de la bravoure de la population congolaise. Seulement, le candidat désigné ne jouit pas d’une bonne réputation tant à l’intérieure qu’à l’extérieur du pays.
En effet, Emmanuel Shadary est sous sanction de l’Union Européenne, tout comme la plupart des militaires qui ont été récemment nommés. Il lui a été reproché entre autres, d’avoir commandité, à l’époque où il était aux commandes du ministère de l’intérieur et sécurité, la répression dans le sang des manifestations de l’opposition et des arrestations arbitraires ou encore d’avoir ordonné des actions qui ont porté atteinte au processus électoral.
A Kinshasa, d’aucuns se souviennent de ses diatribes contre les opposants et l’église catholique. Quelques minutes après l’annonce de sa candidature, des extraits de vidéo de ses incitations à la haine ont refait surface sur les réseaux sociaux, suscitant des milliers de commentaires négatifs.
Sur l’une, on le voit tout excité, écharpe sur le coup, encourager les militantes et militants du PPRD à répondre coup sur coup aux attaques venant des opposants. « S’il t’insulte, il faut en retour que tu l’insulte. Ils insultent ta maman, toi aussi tu fais quoi ? Tu insulte leurs mamans. Coup sur coup. C’est nous qui sommes au pouvoir, c’est nous qui dirigeons ce pays. Moi j’ai été élu député national en 2011 », scande-t-il à Lingala.
Maintenir la pression…
Une avalanche de commentaires hostiles est tombée ces dernières heures sur les réseaux sociaux dans tous les sens. Dans le chef de la population congolaise, c’est le soulagement car, le premier pas vers l’alternance démocratique est engagé. Mais pour les plus prudents des congolais, le profil du dauphin appelle à la prudence et à maintenir la pression pour pousser Joseph Kabila à se mettre hors du jeu politique. « La désignation de Shadari n’est que la première victoire du peuple congolais qui s’est battu pour le respect de Constitution, on s’était battu et on n’avait même versé du sang pour que Kabila s’incline aujourd’hui devant la constitution», a écrit un militant de la Lucha.
Pour les autres, on est encore loin de la tenue des élections d’autant plus que pour eux, Emmanuel Shadary a peu de chances de se faire élire même avec la machine à voter. « Joseph Kabila doit avoir une autre carte qu’il garde derrière la désignation de son dauphin. S’il avait besoin d’un changement, il allait choisir un de ses proches capable de conduire son camp à la victoire avec peu d’efforts », explique un analyste.
Même réaction au Comité Laïc de Coordination (CLC) où tout en se réjouissant de cette victoire, on semble reconcentrer les efforts sur la mobilisation pour exiger le retrait de la machine à voter, l’extirpation de plus de 10 millions d’électeurs fictifs et l’application de l’Accord de la Saint Sylvestre dans son volet relatif aux mesures de décrispation politique.
Du côté de l’opposition, l’on salue ce choix mais sans s’en emballer tout comme la communauté internationale à l’instar de la France qui salue une « bonne décision » dont le contraire aurait « précipité l’isolement du pays ». La Belgique elle, affirme avoir pris acte et insiste sur la tenue des élections libres et crédibles.
En tout cas, pour plus d’un, cette nomination relève d’un choix purement tactique dans le jeu de Kabila et par conséquent, il faut maintenir la pression pour la tenue des véritables élections. Sans quoi, on se dirigerait tout droit vers des élections chaotiques aux résultats désastreux.
Marischka Nkashama
05th August 2018
RDC: Après l’échec de son retour forcé, les proches de Moise Katumbi comptent sur la mobilisation populaire
Après sa tentative avortée de rentrer au pays pour déposer sa candidature à l’élection présidentielle, Moise Katumbi est resté en Zambie. L’opposant congolais n’entend pas poursuivre son exil et est entré en contact avec les services de la Direction Générale de Migration(DGM) le samedi 3 août 2018. Officiellement, les autorités affirment qu’il ne détient pas de pièces d’identité et, sa deuxième tentative de traverser la frontière par le poste frontalier de Kasumbalesa après le refus des autorités d’autoriser l’atterrissage de son jet à l’aéroport de Loano à Lubumbashi a échoué. Son regroupement politique, Ensemble pour le Changement table sur la mobilisation populaire de la population pour lui ouvrir les portes du poste frontalier.
Déploiement impressionnant de la police et de militaires lourdement armés sur les axes stratégiques de la ville de Lubumbashi, c’est le dispositif sécuritaire extraordinaire mis en place dans le Chef-lieu de la province du Haut-Katanga. La vie y semble avoir repris son cours normal mais l’ombre du dernier gouverneur de l’Ex-province du Katanga plane dans toutes les discussions. Des milliers de ses soutiens affirment que sa tentative de retourner au pays est un démenti cinglant aux officiels congolais qui affirment sans vergogne qu’il est un fugitif qui craint de se faire arrêter. Aussi étonnant soit-il, « les dirigeants congolais lui ont refusé même le droit de se faire arrêter », entend-t-on dans les rues de Kinshasa.
Après le forcing, place à la médiation menée par les chefs d’Etats de la CIRGL et de la SADC pour lui obtenir le retour au pays. Ainsi, des sources diplomatiques font état de coups de fils entre les présidents de la République du Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, de la Zambie Edgar Lungu et de l’Angola, João Lourenço.
Et depuis la Zambie, Moise Katumbi garde son souffle à trois jours de la clôture de dépôts de candidatures à l’élection présidentielle du 23 décembre 2018. Pour le moment, ses chances de déposer sa candidature s’amoindrissent de plus en plus d’autant plus que, la Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante(CENI) a écarté l’idée d’accorder un délai supplémentaire aux retardataires.
Le pire est à craindre
Pour ses proches, la mobilisation de la population semble être la dernière carte qui pourra lui permettre de fouler le sol congolais afin de déposer sa candidature. Cette option parait suicidaire mais, elle n’est pas inenvisageable quand on connait la popularité du Président du Tout Puissant Mazembe dans le Grand Katanga en particulier et dans d’autres régions du pays en général.
Mais la réaction des forces de l’ordre risquerait de faire couler un bain de sang à Kasumbalesa et ses environs surtout que l’on apprend que la sécurité a été renforcée avec l’arrivée discrète à Lubumbashi du Général controversé John Numbi. Ce dernier est considéré comme sanguinaire par la Communauté internationale et son nom figure dans plusieurs rapports sur les violations de droits de l’homme.
L’ancien chef de la police nationale congolaise a été nommé en juillet dernier au poste d’Inspecteur Général des Forces Armées congolaises (FARDC),lui qui avait été suspendu en juin 2010 suite à son implication dans le double assassinat de Floribert Chebeya et Fidèle Bazana, deux défenseurs de droits de l’homme.
Tout compte fait, l’avenir de la candidature de cet opposant dépend dans une certaine mesure des discussions en cours entre les dirigeants de la sous-région et en grande partie, de la mobilisation de la population, particulièrement celle des provinces du Grand Katanga. La réaction des forces de l’ordre est un autre élément qu’il faut prendre en considération.
Marischka Nkashama
by Marischka Nkashama
03th July 2018
A cinq jours de la clôture de dépôts de candidatures à l’élection présidentielle, le ciel est loin de s’éclaircir dans le ciel politique en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). Secoué de l’intérieur et de l’extérieur, le Chef de l’Etat Joseph Kabila est aux abois et se cherche désespérément une issue. Avec le grand retour de l’un de ses redoutables opposants, Jean Pierre Bemba et la détermination d’un autre, Moise Katumbi à regagner le pays, il ne souffle plus le chaud et le froid. S’approche-t-on de la fin de ses dix-sept années de pouvoir ?
Accompagné d’une forte délégation composée notamment de Vice-premier ministres des Affaires étrangères Léonard She Okitundu et de Transport José Makila, des Ministres de la Communication et de l’énergie Lambert Mende et Ingele Ifoto, le président congolais a effectué une visite de deux jours à Luanda sur invitation de son homologue angolais Joao Lourenço.
Cette visite chez un voisin qui s’inquiète du flou entretenu sur son avenir n’est pas un soulagement pour Joseph Kabila. Elle avait été reportée plusieurs fois et du côté congolais, on justifiait ces reports par la gestion de l’agenda du chef de l’Etat.
Mais au fond, on sait que les relations entre la RDC et ses voisins, le Rwanda et l’Angola se sont détériorées depuis que ces derniers avaient initié, avec l’appui de la France, des solutions susceptibles de permettre le bon déroulement des élections. Et cette fois-ci, tout porte à croire que les lignes ont bougé et que l’homme fort de Kinshasa a compris que rien ne sera plus comme avant pour lui.
FCC, une plateforme installée sur le sable
En effet, quelques jours avant d’envoler pour la capitale angolaise, il avait demandé aux différentes composantes du Front Commun pour le Congo (FCC) de lui proposer quatre noms en vue de la désignation du candidat de cette plateforme à la présidentielle. Cette démarche que certains considéraient comme le signe de son départ imminent ne serait pas sincère.
D’après de sources généralement bien renseignées, il s’agirait en réalité d’un trompe-l’œil car, son nom apparaitrait en première position sur la liste de chacune de composantes.
Toutefois, ce qui semble être une stratégie visant à tromper la vigilance d’une population congolaise de plus en plus hostile à sa candidature pour un troisième mandat que lui interdit la Constitution, se retourne contre lui. Des prétendants candidats parmi les membres de cette plateforme dont il est l’autorité morale affuteraient les armes et ne sont plus prêts à jouer les accompagnateurs.
Ainsi, les premières fissures du semblant de solidité de cette plateforme conçue sur de l’argent et la peur se sont fait sentir notamment avec la publication dans la presse, d’un prétendu dévolu de la majeure partie de cadres du FCC sur la personne du Ministre d’Etat au Plan, Bahati Lukwebo pour l’investiture à la candidature à l’élection présidentielle. Ce dernier ne cache plus ses envies présidentielles et ses proches se seraient mis déjà au travail pour la préparation de sa campagne électorale.
Une opposition renforcée et remontée
En face, l’opposition a repris du souffle avec le retour triomphal de Jean-Pierre Bemba le 1er août à Kinshasa et le dépôt de sa candidature le lendemain auprès de la Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante(CENI).
Les rapports de forces sur le terrain ont donc changé et ni la chasse aux sorcières ciblant les opposants, ni les débauchages de certains d’entre eux n’auront pas réussi à étouffer une opposition congolaise très remontée ces derniers jours. Au contraire, les opposants affichent la ferme détermination de présenter un candidat commun enfin d’augmenter leur chance de battre, dans une élection en un seul tour, le candidat du FCC.
A ce propos, les principaux leaders de l’opposition, Moise Katumbi dont le retour au pays est une question de vie ou de mort pour le pouvoir, Jean-Pierre Bemba, Félix Tshisekedi et Vital Kamerhe émettent sur la même longueur d’ondes. Ce dernier a déclaré à l’ouverture du Congrès de son parti, l’Union pour la Nation Congolaise(UNC) ce jeudi 2 août 2018 que, ces quatre personnalités sont de « baleines » et qu’elles attendent le « dauphin » pour l’écraser. Ce, en référence au débat en vogue sur l’identité de l’inconnu qui devra porter les couleurs du camp présidentiel à l’élection présidentielle du 23 décembre prochain en cas du retrait de Joseph Kabila.
Quelle que soit la décision qu’il pourra prendra-se représenter ou désigner un dauphin- celui dont les sympathisants appellent « Rais » n’est plus le seul à détenir le monopole sur le processus électoral en RDC, le choix de ses adversaires et même la désignation du candidat de sa propre famille politique. Certes, il a encore un petit sourire mais, ses cheveux longs et son visage maquillé ne cachent plus le mal être qui l’habite et son stress dû à la peur du lendemain.
Marichka K
by Betty BOPETE
Kabila ‘s term has ended since the end of December 2015, but mediocre that he is refusing to leave and is spreading terror in my country DR Congo.
Kabila has started mistreating the Congolese people since coming to power in 2001, but the crimes he has committed over the last three years are more than alarming, deplorable and inadmissible.
The date of 25 February 2018, the Christians of the city of Mbandaka responded to the call of the Lay Committee of Christians CLC which is a structure recognized by the competent ecclesiastical authority.
The CLC organized a peaceful march in accordance with the constitution of the DR Congo to demand the full implementation of the agreement of the New Year's Eve of December 31, 2016.
With the accompaniment and the supervision of their pastors, rosaries, Bibles, and cross in hand, without insults or violence, singing religious songs, the Christian faithful had as their base the town hall of Mbandaka to deposit their memo.
This peaceful march was dispersed and in some cases repressed by the police who made disproportionate use of tear gas and live ammunition.
To date, the results of this day are as follows:
- A case of death, it is about Mr Eric BOLOKO shot at close range by a police officer of the naval force
- 13 wounded three of them in critical condition. The three are:
The other injured means are in the process of healing their injuries at home.
- Several arrests including a minor who was released after the intervention of MONUSCO. the others are still kept in command of the city of Mbandaka
- Case of fire: two police houses were burned by the angry population at the news of the murder of Mr Eric Boloko
From the foregoing, I deplore and condemn the excessive use of brutality by the police against my unarmed compatriots. This situation is unacceptable. It is time for Kabila and his regime to be judged for the atrocities they commit because we are tired of this mediocrity.
By Betty BOPETE
Government officials and security forces in DRCongo repeatedly banned opposition demonstrations, fired teargas and live bullets at peaceful protesters, shut media outlets, and prevented opposition leaders and activists from moving freely.
More than 100 activists and opposition leaders or supporters were arbitrarily arrested between January and December 2016, and held for at least 48 hours. Some were held incommunicado for weeks or months and badly mistreated, while others were put on trial on trumped-up charges. At time of writing, at least 35 activists and political prisoners remained in detention.
Nine youth activists and at least 30 political opposition supporters were arrested in Kinshasa and Goma on or around February 16 in connection with a “ville morte,” or general strike, to protest delays in organizing presidential elections.
On May 4, Congo’s justice minister opened an investigation into one of the country’s leading opposition figures, Moïse Katumbi, for alleged recruitment of mercenaries. After police fired teargas and threw rocks at demonstrators who had gathered to support Katumbi when he was called in for questioning at the prosecutor’s office in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi, the national prosecutor authorized Katumbi to leave the country for health reasons.
In an unrelated case, he was later convicted in absentia for forgery regarding a real estate deal many years earlier and sentenced to three years in prison and fined US$1 million. One of the judges later described how she had been threatened by the director of the National Intelligence Agency (Agence Nationale de Renseignements, ANR),Kalev Mutondo, and forced to hand down the conviction—a blatant example of the agency’s interference in judicial independence. We note that Mr Kalev Mutond the deputy head of ANR
is Accused of brutal repression and targeted by the sanctions of the European Union and the United States, and he said that he does not care about sanctions. Impassive, Kalev Mutond wants to give the impression that he is snubbing the international community. This time, there is no escaping. No one is more duped about the central role of the spy spy of Kinshasa in the repression by the security forces of the demonstrators, in the imprisonment of activists and political opponents critical of President Joseph Kabila who clings to the power.
On May 26, security forces fired teargas and live bullets as they sought to prevent demonstrations from going forward in Goma, killing at least one person and injuring at least 11 others, including four children. Opposition leaders had called for nationwide demonstrations to protest the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the president could remain in office “until the installation of the new elected president.”
The government also shut down media outlets close to the opposition, at least seven of which remained blocked at time of writing. In November, Communications Minister Lambert Mende issued a decree, making it increasingly difficult for foreign radio and TV stations to operate in Congo. The move came a week after authorities cut the signal of Radio France Internationale in Kinshasa altogether, and temporarily jammed the United Nations-supported Radio Okapi station.
In August 2016, the Congolese government blocked a Human Rights Watch senior researcher from continuing to work in Congo.
Congolese took to the streets again the week of September 19 to protest the electoral commission’s failure to announce presidential elections, three months before the end of Kabila’s term. Security forces responded with excessive force, killing at least 66 people and setting at least three opposition party headquarters on fire. Some protesters also turned violent, beating or burning to death several police officers. At least eight journalists were detained in an apparent attempt to block independent reporting of the situation.
As Kabila’s mandate came to an end, security forces deployed heavily throughout major cities on December 19 and 20 to try to prevent protests. At least 40 people were killed and hundreds more were arrested – many of whom had gone to the streets blowing whistles and banging on pots and pans to tell Kabila “his time was up.”
Opposition leader Franck Diongo was arrested on December 19, and convicted and sentenced to five years in prison on December 28, following a hasty trial that he attended in a wheelchair and on an intravenous drip from mistreatment he endured during arrest. The provincial parliament of Haut-Katanga voted on December 27 to lift the parliamentary immunity for opposition leader Gabriel Kyungu, accused of insulting Kabila.
Press Statement
John Kirby
Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
September 19, 2016
The United States is disappointed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo electoral commission’s (CENI) failure to announce an elections calendar today as called for by the DRC constitution. We are also deeply alarmed by reports of violence that occurred alongside civic protests today in Kinshasa, and which reportedly has already resulted in the deaths of protestors and police.
We condemn all violence and call upon all Congolese stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid provocation, while reiterating that the DRC Government has the primary responsibility for protecting human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Today’s events underscore the need for a truly inclusive dialogue process aimed at reaching consensus on holding presidential elections as soon as technically feasible and guaranteeing the country’s first democratic transition of power. The United States is also outraged and deeply disturbed by the physical obstruction and verbal aggression aimed at U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa Tom Perriello while he was departing from the Kinshasa airport on September 18. Special Envoy Perriello was in Kinshasa for ten days, meeting with a wide range of government, opposition, civil society, and international actors to encourage participation in a dialogue that respects the spirit of the DRC constitution and is aimed at reaching consensus on holding elections as soon as technically feasible. The Special Envoy is a well-known figure in Kinshasa and was blocked and verbally threatened in an area of Kinshasa’s N’djili Airport that is tightly secured by Congolese authorities. The U.S. Government protests this treatment of its Envoy in the strongest possible terms. The United States believes that any individuals who are responsible for perpetrating violence or repression should be held accountable, and remains ready to impose additional targeted sanctions.
Vital Kamerhe,
Toujour au Service de Kanambe
12 Septembre 2016
FLASH...........
DRC-Zambia copper shipments resume after fatal riots in Kasumbalesa
Shipments of copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo have resumed following a temporary halt to exports in the wake of fatal rioting on Friday September 9, according to market sources.
The border between the DRC and Zambia was closed on both sides on Friday as clashes broke out between protesters and police in the...
Disagreement over government plan to first hold local vote. Presidential poll due for November will be postponed
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The only opposition parties participating in talks to agree on a timetable for elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo walked out of the negotiations due to a disagreement over the sequence of the votes. The opposition delegation led by Vital Kamerhe said it suspended its participation because it disagrees with a plan by President Joseph Kabila’s ruling coalition to hold local elections before a vote for the executive. The whole process could take “years,” Kamerhe said Monday by phone from Kinshasa, the capital. “That’s a way of gaining a new mandate, without holding elections.” Presidential elections in Africa’s biggest copper producer had been scheduled for this year, but delays to preparations such as the update of the voters’ register mean the November poll will be postponed. Congo’s largest opposition groups, including Etienne Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and a coalition of parties backing presidential hopeful Moise Katumbi, say Kabila has purposely blocked vote preparations in order to hold on to power and refused to participate in the talks.
Local Elections
The leader of the government delegation, Senator Leonard She Okitundu, said informal negotiations will continue and that he hoped the opposition would re-join the talks. He insisted that local and other elections should be held before the presidential poll, a sequence that could see President Kabila hold on to power long after the end of his mandate in December.
“We believe that presidential elections are not more important than others,” he said by phone from Kinshasa.
While the government has recently insisted on local elections, such votes were due to be held following Kabila’s election in 2006 and again after his re-election in 2011, without ever taking place.
Congolese Support is asking for Mr Kabila to resign with immediate action.
17 August 2016
By Aaron Ross
KINSHASA Aug 17 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people marched on the town of Beni in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday to protest over government inaction against violent rebel groups in the region, witnesses said.
Around 50 people were killed by suspected Ugandan rebels on the outskirts of Beni on Saturday, the latest in a spate of attacks in the region that has killed more than 700 people since October 2014. The protests on Wednesday added to tensions in Congo ahead of an election, scheduled for November, in which the opposition has called for President Joseph Kabila to step down after his allotted two terms.
Residents of Beni and surrounding towns chanted against the government and army outside the mayor's office, voicing frustration at bloodletting in a region once considered a government stronghold. Residents of nearby Butembo and Oicha also marched to Beni to protest, Teddy Kataliko, president of the Civil Society of Beni Territory, told Reuters.
Police and soldiers broke up the crowd with tear gas and warning shots, witnesses said.
"When they wanted to enter the town of Beni, the police dispersed them with tear gas," Kataliko said of the protesters from Butembo.
It was not immediately possible to confirm reports of injuries or deaths, and a police spokesman said he did not yet have information on the situation.
BENI, DR Congo, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 45 people were found dead in a massacre perpetrated on Saturday night in Beni city of North Kivu Province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, city mayor Nyonyi Bwanakawa confirmed on Sunday. According to the mayor, the assailants attacked the village of Rwangoma in the outskirts of the city, killing civilians. President Kabila who is staying in the province of North Kivu, told the press that these acts were of pure terrorism. "The terrorist massacre happening at the moment in the east is not different from what happened in Mali, France, Somalia and other corners of the world," said Joseph Kabila in Goma.
Suspected rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group of Ugandan origin, were responsible for the attack, according to army spokesperson Mak Hazukay. Several military operations are underway in the region against the rebels in various parts of the province of North Kivu. Local authorities said more than a thousand people have been massacred in this part of the country, in the province of North Kivu since last year.
Idiot. Mr Kabila DR Congolese President (Well know as Mr Kanambe, Rwandan Administrator in DR Congo) here taking instructions from his leader Paul Kagame. Quate: For you to stay again you must sign all those papers immediately.
Shame for DR Congolese.
Published by: John Maloba USA
12/08/2016
KIGALI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda and DR Congo Friday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation particularly in areas of cross border trade and energy.
This is the outcome of talks between Congolese President Joseph Kabila and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame. Kabila was in neighboring Rwanda for talks on regional cooperation. The two presidents met in the western Rwanda border town of Rubavu. "The two sides exchanged on several topics regarding mutual interest and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation particularly in areas of cross border trade and energy, particularly in the extraction of methane gas in Lake Kivu. It was agreed that a joint technical team will begin its work before the end of August 2016," said a statement issued at the end of the meeting posted on Rwanda's presidency Twitter account. Kagame in May launched the Kivu-Watt Gas Power Plant located in the western Rwanda district of Karongi.
The Kivu-Watt Methane Gas plant on Lake Kivu added 25 megawatts to the national electricity grid.
American energy firm Contour Global was given a 25-year concession to produce 100 megawatts from Lake Kivu, said to be the world's only methane rich water body.
On cooperation on security, the statement said "both sides hailed the progress made in line with eradicating negative forces and also stressed the importance of establishing strong mechanism for the timely sharing of intelligence." DR Congo harbours Rwandan rebels, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, made of elements blamed for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Enditem
08 August 2016
Our European development agencies help fund Helios Towers Africa's purchase of Bharti Airtel's 950 towers in DRC
Read more: Helios Towers Africa HTA DRC towers EAIF Investec DfID SECO Sida
Helios Towers Africa (HTA) has won funding from the development organisations of four European governments in its funding round to help finance the purchase of 950 telecoms towers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The latest loan, of $20 million, comes from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF),which is taking part in a syndicated loan to provide HTA with a total of $105 million, originally announced in mid-July.
HTA said in July that it was buying the towers from Bharti Airtel, to add to its portfolio across Africa, which now totals 6,500.
EAIF is funded by the development organisations of the governments of the UK, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands as well as by private sector banks and development finance organisations. David White, chair of EAIF, said: "Advanced telecommunications are vital to unlocking more of the DRC’s potential. HTA’s investment is an important boost to enterprise and business growth in the country."
Les activités ont tourné au ralenti, vendredi 29 juillet, dans certains services de la Fonction publique, a constaté Radio Okapi. Quelques fonctionnaires contactés ont indiqué que les travailleurs ont été obligés de se rendre au meeting de la Majorité présidentielle qui a eu lieu au stade Tata Raphaël.
Dans le bâtiment qui abrite les services de la Fonction publique, mieux connu par les fonctionnaires sous le nom de Golgotha l’atmosphère est celle d’une journée fériée. Les travailleurs sont tous partis au meeting de la majorité.
« Hier, entre 14 et 15 heures, les fonctionnaires disaient qu’il y a eu une note circulaire qui a été signée par un chef de division obligeant tous les fonctionnaires d’aller assister au meeting. Le matin, il y a quelques-uns qui étaient venus au service. Apres quelques heures, ils n’étaient plus là », a confié à Radio Okapi un agent de l’Etat.
Fonctionnaires de l’Etat obligés de participer au meeting de la MP
29 July 2016
Retour de Papa Tshisekedi, Le President de L' UDPS
28 July 2016
A judge in the Democratic Republic of Congo has said she was pressured by the intelligence service to convict opposition politician Moise Katumbi.
Chantal Ramazani, who is now in hiding, believes the intention was to block Mr Katumbi's bid for the presidency in elections due in November.
President Joseph Kabila is required by the constitution to step down this year but no poll date has been set.
Security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo must observe restraint in their handling of rival protests in the capital Kinshasa on 29 and 31 July, said Amnesty International today. The ruling coalition – Majorité Présidentielle – has called a rally in support of proposed talks on the electoral process, two days before the opposition coalition – Rassemblement des Forces du Changement – holds a rally demanding that the polls are held on schedule in November, as required by the Constitution.
“The authorities must facilitate the right to peaceful assembly for all, including opposition supporters protesting election delays that they regard as a tactic to prolong President Joseph Kabila’s stay in power,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
Security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo must observe restraint in their handling of protests taking place in the capital Kinshasa this weekend, said Amnesty International today.
The ruling coalition – Majorité Présidentielle – has called a rally for today (29 July) in support of proposed talks on the electoral process, two days before the opposition coalition – Rassemblement des Forces du Changement – will hold an event (31 July) demanding that the elections are held on schedule in November, as required.
EBR Staff WriterPublished 27 July 2016
The World Bank has suspended funding for a huge dam development in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the government changed plans for the project.
The bank said it is suspending disbursements on its $73.1m grant intended at funding technical assistance on the Inga-3 Basse Chute (BC) & Mid-Size Hydropower Development Technical Assistance (TA) Project.
The total estimated cost of the project is about $14bn. It is part of an eight-stage Grand Inga project which could produce 44GW of energy at an estimated cost of $50-80bn.
The World Bank's grant includes $47.5m for Inga-3 BC development support and $25.6m for mid-size hydropower development support.
The decision was taken after the government of DRC decided to take the project in a different strategic direction than it was agreed upon between the government and the World Bank in 2014. At the time of suspension, about 6% of the total project financing had been disbursed.
It is unclear as to how the impact of the withdrawal of funds could be on the project. In May, the government of DRC mentioned that it was looking sources of finance, but the exact amount was not disclosed.
By Elsa Buchanan, July 28, 2016 15:11 BST
Presidential candidate Moise Katumbi has been in talks with the United Nations (UN) about ensuring his safety as he plans to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),in defiance of a warrant for his arrest.
Katumbi is seen as the leading challenger to President Joseph Kabila in elections due to be held in November 2016, but a recent criminal conviction effectively made him ineligible to stand. The football magnate, who is currently in exile in Belgium, has not been on Congolese soil since 20 May, when he flew to Johannesburg to seek medical treatment.
The World Bank Group has halted millions of dollars worth of funding for the first phase of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) Grand Inga Dam complex, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest ever infrastructure project.
The bank issued a statement yesterday (26 July) saying it had “suspended disbursements” to the $12bn Inga-3 Basse Chute project following the Congolese government’s decision to take the project in a “different strategic direction to that agreed between the World Bank and the government in 2014”.
In March 2014, the bank’s International Development Association arm approved a $73m grant toward to costs of setting up the project. So far, 6% of that project financing has been disbursed. The money was to have been spent on strategic advice and research, as well as building up the administrative capacity of the government.