The UN’s top diplomat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) warned of an “extremely fragile” political situation in the country.
Maman Sidikou, head of the UN’s mission in the DRC, spoke before the UN Security Council on Tuesday, warning, “The tipping point towards grave violence could arrive very rapidly.”
As The Cipher Brief reported yesterday, the DRC has not experienced a peaceful leadership transition since gaining its independence from Belgium in 1960. The latest uptick in violence is linked to an announcement by the DRC electoral commission that presidential elections originally slated for this October, would be postponed until 2018.
The opposition sees the announcement as a brazen attempt by Kabilia to remain in power beyond his constitutionally imposed term limit that expires on December 19. Earlier this year, the DRC Supreme Court determined Kabila could remain as interim president in the event of a “delay.”
Joseph Siegle, Director of Research for National Defense University’s Africa Center for Strategic Studies, wrote for The Cipher Brief, “Kabila’s efforts to establish a monopoly on power have been systematic.”
For more, read “The DRC: Strong Grip on Power, Weak Handle on Governance.”
Brian Garrett-Glaser is the content manager at The Cipher Brief.
