Eye on the Continent: Will DRC finally see the sun shine?

“He that cannot obey cannot command. If you want to become a leader, you should first learn how to follow someone else.”

Kabila’s father fought to depose Mobuto Sese Seko and set the ground for future malediction. When he returned from China, Kabila’s son was awarded the rank of Major General, and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed forces of Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998. He was later (in 2000) appointed Chief of Staff of the Land Forces, a position he held until the elder President Kabila’s assassination in January 2001. As a way of consolidating power Kabila’s son signed a ceasefire agreement in 2002. The agreement was signed with the leaders of two main rebel movements and aftermath a national unity government was formed as an accomplishment of the signed agreement.

Elections in DRC were never set to have any candidate other than Joseph Kabila win. It was in 2006, when he had already been in power for 5 years that the first elections took place. One of the main candidates dropped because of allegations of fraud. But Kabila’s maneuvers to stay in power did not end there. According to Article 71 of the constitution the Democratic Republic of Congo “The President of the Republic is elected by an absolute majority of the votes cast. If such a majority is not obtained on the first ballot, a second ballot takes place within a period of fifteen days.” However the article above was not so pleasing to some spheres of the Congolese politics, a factor which ended up making it been banished.

After people demonstrations, Mr. Kabila seems not to understand the displeasure towards him and the possible need to step down. It has been speculated that he intends to contest in the up coming elections. However this time the notice was not taken smoothly “Hundreds of angry young men burned tires in several neighborhoods, looted mainly Asian-owned shops and threw stones at cars.” All it clearly shows that the Congolese are demanding change. But Mr. Kabila seems to not be ready to let the rope go. The government in response to the demonstrations ordered the restrictions on the BBC’s Maud Jullien reports from Kinshasa that most shops are closed and Internet and text messaging services have been blocked, apparently on the orders of the government.” This entire situation begs the question, why hold onto power by any means? Why is it so difficult to hand over once the time has come?

I believe Kabila is having difficulty with comprehending the popular will of the people, if so perhaps The African Union should advise him to step down; although, it may look difficult because he has the support of the army. Mr. Kabila must come to understand that he has not taken a wealthy country as DRC anywhere. It may be difficult but not impossible. If the civil society organisation which DRC is part of such as SADC and other put pressure on him.

Democratic Republic of Congo is now facing a ghost that it has faced in 2006 and 2011. I think now is the time to disallow the governmental authorities  from leading the next elections. Neutral civil society groups should organize the electoral process. Furthermore, the civil society groups can garner the support of the international media and start rounds of political dialogue in order to get the other political actors more involved. This will be helpful in making Kabila aware that it’s time to pass on the power. These steps could possibly lead to the most pacific, democratic and civic election in the history of the country in 2016.
Again everything depends on what Mr. Kabila really wants for his country. If he cannot respect the term limits imposed by the constitution, how will he tell his fellow citizens to respect the constitution?