Europe

Didier Reynders Meets Opposition Leaders from DR Congo

Belgium attempts to Solve Tensions in DR Congo

June 14th, 2016
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders met with Opposition leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo on the 8th of June in Brussels.

The aim of the meeting was to refuse attempts by the President, Joseph Kabila to remain in office beyond the two terms allowed under the constitution which was adopted in 2006.

In 2001, President Kabila took office after the assassination of his father. In 2006 he was elected as President and in 2011 he was re-elected for a second term. The attempts which the President has made to remain in office has created tension in the country and several delegations came from Kinshasa with the hope of adopting a common declaration at the end of the two-day meeting to solve the situation.

The only major opposition group to have shown willingness to negotiate with the government was the UDPS party, led by Tshisekedi, an opposition leader during the Sese Seko regime, who came second during the 2011 election.

A date for new elections has yet to be established and President Kabila hopes to reach a wide consensus before then, organizing a “national dialogue”.

The meeting was organized by Belgium to display the common efforts achieved during the meeting in Genval by the opposition to try to reach a common ground. Minister Reynders hoped for a real exchange between the majority and the opposition. One which is conducted within the framework of Resolution 2277 of the United Nations Security Council in view of the electoral process.

References

Cultural Diplomacy News
Valentina Mazzone, CD News