President kabilas second term expires next year after a two term mandate. Politics of the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. As in many countries, presidential politics here have long. Joseph kabila facts and information important points. Warlords, tycoons, smugglers, and the systematic theft of. The democratic republic of congos critical juncture the. In january 2015 the 2015 congolese protests broke out in the countrys capital following the release of a draft law that would extend the presidential term limits and allow joseph kabila to run again for office. This came after the independent national electoral commission has set presidential. Joseph kabila, seen here signing the paris agreement on climate change, is suspected of wanting to change the constitution to allow him to remain. Joseph kabilas presidential ambitions could push congo to. Francois ngolet, 2 books donat tshimboj kaleng, 1 book maurice muyaya wetu, 1 book emmanuel kisimba kimba, 1 book mwamba tshibangu, 1 book united states.
Joseph siegle leads the africa centers research program, which produces the centers africa security briefs, research papers, special reports, spotlights, and infographics series with the aim of generating policy relevant analyses that contribute to addressing africas security challenges. As kabila steps down, catholics in dr congo continue push. T he democratic republic of congos despot, joseph kabila, knows how his bread is buttered. The data also suggest a correlation between support for democracy and support for term limits.
Jan 26, 2015 the nationwide unrest was sparked by a parliamentary bill seen as a ploy to extend the rule of congos divisive president, joseph kabila. Dec 20, 2018 joseph kabila came to power in the democratic republic of congo in 2001, ruling during a period of bloody insurgencies and deadly protests against his extended mandate. Jan 03, 2017 congos president, joseph kabila, who has overstayed his term in office and is widely believed to have looted millions, would step down by the end of 2017, the bishops said. Kabila running dr congo like a family boutique katumbi. Kabilas common front for congo fcc coalition won about 70% of seats in the lower house of parliament and an overwhelming majority of provincial assembly seats in elections held at the same time as the presidential election.
Our compatriots are struggling to access our natural. He has refused to say whether he will run for the office again, regardless of term limits. Grief and anger in congo follow violent protests against. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, president laurentdesire kabila. Why so many african presidents are ditching term limits. The announcement reported in local media brought an end to speculation that kabila would bypass the countrys twoterm limit to stand in the december 23 elections. Kabila s second term as president of the democratic republic of congo was due to end on 20 december 2016.
Joseph kabila took power in 2001 at age of 29 after the. The reluctance of joseph kabila to cede power could push congo to the. Congo ruling coalition wins legislative majority the. He was elected in 2006 in the drcs first democratic election since it gained independence from belgium in 1960. But with the people set against it, and a strong and unambiguous twoterm limit in the constitution, his ambitions are leading his country to a dangerous impasse. Since independence in 1960, the country has been embroiled in conflict. Keep reassuring the west of your strategic value and theyll let you get away with pretty much anything. Stearns, the author of a wellregarded book on congolese. The mirage of democracy in the drc journal of democracy. The economist explains why so many african presidents are. Joseph kabila economist world news, politics, economics. Aug 04, 2014 joseph kabila ran a child army of conscripted boys as young as 10 for his father, then a rwandan rebel who later took over the congo.
The nationwide unrest was sparked by a parliamentary bill seen as a ploy to extend the rule of congos divisive president, joseph kabila. President joseph kabila will reach the end of his second term in 2016 and is constitutionally obligated to step down ahead of polls scheduled for november that year. With the right court rulings and parliamentary maneuvering, the drcs own term limit issue could be circumvented. Back in january, the capital of kinshasa and other cities were rocked by widespread protests when democratic republic of congo drc president joseph kabilas regime tried to. In congo, the january 2014 demonstrations followed president joseph kabilas attempt to modify the electoral laws and to stay in power beyond the two terms outlined in the countrys constitution. Mr kagame, mr nkurunziza and mr kabila are former rebel leaders who came to power through military victory.
The president is about to plunge into a difficult period in the runup to the end of his term in 2016. Despite signing an agreement to cede power and hold elections in 2017 the december accord, kabila remains in office. Kabila coalition wins dr congo senate majority defenceweb. The elections are going to take place without the participation of president kabila who will abide by the spirit and the.
Congolese president joseph kabila at the united nations on april 22. Who is joseph kabila and did he assassinate his father. Barack obama welcome congolese strongman joseph kabila to. A selfserving decision made by his regime and related to the upcoming november 2016 national election was the local grievance that deeply offended hundreds of thousands of citizens within the region. Joseph kabila born 1971 became the president of the congo in 2001 when he was only 29 years old. An election crisis in democratic republic of congo could mean. In the wake of the 2014 burkinabe uprising, the democratic republic of the congo experienced a series of protests e. Project muse the struggle over term limits in africa. Highlighting an issue that exists in several african countries where leaders have sought to extend their rule beyond constitutional limits, u.
Joseph kabila came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father, laurentdesire kabila. The limits of president tshisekedis security strategy in the democratic. Jun 21, 2016 a few months later, in october 2015, president denis sassou nguesso of the republic of the congo brazzaville held a referendum for extending the presidential term limits. For example, there are no doubts that the fourteen yearold regime of joseph kabila next door is any less devious in protecting its monopoly on executive power. National elections are scheduled for 23 december 2018 in the democratic republic of congo. Joseph kabila is in his second elected term as the president of the drc kabila took over as the head of state after his father was assassinated in 2001 the drc is one of the largest and most populous states of africa, and the world, with huge reserves of economically vital natural resources. President joseph kabila, whose term ends this year. An election crisis in democratic republic of congo could.
A third term for dr congo president expected to wreak. The united states urged democratic republic of congo on sunday to stick to its constitution that sets terms limits for the president, as speculation grows that joseph kabila may seek a third term. The actions of president joseph kabila of the democratic republic of the congo drc make clear his intention to stay in power beyond his second term. On february 23, 2015 two opposition officials of the democratic republic of congo called on president joseph kabila to step down at the end of his term next year, saying the constitution barred him from seeking a third term. More than 60 percent of congolese live on less than one dollar a day. Aug 14, 2018 emmanuel shadary is president joseph kabila s preferred presidential candidate meaning that kabila could remain in power if not in office. Now kabila is undermining the constitution and violating the agreement.
But the former taxi driver, who was elevated to the presidency after his fathers assassination in 2001, has shown every intention of attempting to stay in power. Bemba is the president of the movement for the liberation of the congo mlc, a former rebel group turned political party, and the strongest contender to lead the opposition to election victory. The democratic republic of congo, a country of 79 million people and immense natural resource wealth, is on the verge of a political crisis. Joseph kabila, in his real name hyppolite kanambe kazemberembe, was born on 4th june 1971 of a rwandan father on the name of christopher kanambe and a rwandan mother named marceline mukambukuje. Outgoing democratic republic of congo president joseph kabilas ruling coalition won a majority in legislative elections, a coalition official said on saturday, despite opposition leader felix. There have been protests against his attempts to change term limits and extend his rule. Could the drc be africas next third term battleground. Opinion congos kabila and the dictators dilemma the new york.
Some observers argue the kasai insurgency illustrates what could happen throughout the country if kabila continues to illegally remain in office. Rather than strengthening congos nascent democracy, kabila seeks a. As kabila steps down, catholics in dr congo continue push for. Kabila had been barred by constitutional term limits from standing for another term, leading to drcs first transfer of power at the ballot box after his two decades in office. Hes handing over the presidency but not necessarily his power. The country has been in a deep crisis since 2015, and conditions are primed. Joseph kabilas second and constitutionally last term ended in december 2016.
Kabilas decision to step aside wont change the drcs power. Unfortunately, in 2011, it was a different story, mr. Sep 16, 2016 many africans want presidential term limits, even if their governments dont. The donor communitys silence has emboldened kabila in his power grab. African leaders roll back presidential term limits. Many donor nations regard honoring presidential term limits as an indication of democratic progress and threaten to withhold aid if kabila goes rouge.
Josephs father laurent kabila started the trend of creating a business empire when he ousted mobutu from office through a military coup in 1997. Joseph kabila succeeded his late father, laurent kabila, as president. Dec 12, 2018 president joseph kabila of the drc, on the other hand, is actually leaving the presidency after a mere 17 years in power. He will buy time until he can find a pretext to remove constitutional term limits that prevent him from standing for reelection. Subcommittee on africa, global health, and human rights, 1 book antoine ghonda m. Kabila will not seek new term international namibian sun. October 27, 2015 by alex fielding demonstrators gather to protest any attempt by democratic republic of the congo president joseph kabila to seek a third term in power. Joseph kabila is in his second elected term as the president of the drc. Joseph kabila dr congo kabila is, in comparison to his counterparts, still a young head of state and has not held office for a long period of time.
He was put into the position after his father, laurent kabila, president at the time, was assassinated. A number of demographic factors correlate with support for term limits. A statement issued by his spokesperson on 19 december 2016, stated that joseph kabila would remain in post until a new president is in place following elections which will not be held until at least april 2018. Congo president joseph kabila will not seek third term. He was elected as president in 2006 and reelected in 2011 for a second term. Joseph kabila kabange added 12 new photos to the album.
Kabila came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father, laurentdesire kabila, the countrys third president. Joseph kabila kabange is a congolese politician who served as president of the democratic. President joseph kabila, whose term of office ended on dec. United states pushes congo on term limits, pledges aid. Josephs father laurent kabila started the trend of creating a business empire when he ousted mobutu from office through a. Kabilas term was due to expire on 20 december 2016, according to the terms of. Democratic republic of congos president joseph kabila pictured at a meeting with his angolas counterpart on january 19, 2015 in kinshasa.
Drc legitimized president joseph kabila, the country teeters on the brink of. Apr 27, 2016 the democratic republic of congos critical juncture. The introduction of term limits for presidents in africa began in the. He ruled the country for almost 17 years, and controversially won two elections, in 2006 and 2011. He has served at the helm of the country for nearly 15 years with the first five considered transitional.
Joseph kabila biography life, children, history, school. Nairobi congolese opposition activists fought for years to get joseph kabila to do something uncommon among african authoritarians. Montreal congos current president joseph kabila will not seek a third mandate in the central african countrys upcoming december elections because of constitutional term limits that prevent him. Oct 27, 2015 could the drc be africas next third term battleground. Drcs outgoing president joseph kabila, who was barred from standing for a third term, has found an entirely novel way of hanging on to power. May 02, 2016 joseph kabila, seen here signing the paris agreement on climate change, is suspected of wanting to change the constitution to allow him to remain in power. Heres how african leaders stage constitutional coups. Apparently over 92 percent of those who voted agreed. Joseph kabila kabange is a congolese politician who served as president of the democratic republic of the congo between january 2001 and january 2019. Believe it or not, joseph kabila, over in the congo, is term limited. It is, by area, the largest country in subsaharan africa, the secondlargest in all of africa after algeria. As president joseph kabila digs in, tensions rise in congo. The current term in office of drc president joseph kabila is set to end in november 2016, and he is prohibited under current law from serving another term.
In the closing months of 2011, presidential and legislative elections were run. President barack obama gave a landmark speech at the african union au headquarters in addis ababa, criticizing leaders who undemocratically change their constitutions to stay in power and emphasizing that the united states would call. Six reasons why president joseph kabila will not relinquish power on 23 december 2018. He reached the end of his constitutional twoterm limit last.
Joseph kabila was reelected for a second term amid accusations of massive electoral fraud. Unanswered questions surround kabilas assassination by chris talbot 25 january 2001 thirty days of official mourning began in the democratic republic of. London president joseph kabila of congo shows no sign of stepping down. He hung on for two years past the scheduled election in 2016, offering a series of increasingly absurd reasons for the delay, but the election will actually be held on 23 december and kabila will not be a candidate. Kabila could run for a second term five years later. President joseph kabila of the drc, on the other hand, is actually leaving the presidency after a mere 17 years in power.
Jun 06, 2016 the basic agreement was reached in december 2002. Two months later, rwanda also called for a vote on term. Joseph kabila ran a child army of conscripted boys as young as 10 for his father, then a rwandan rebel who later took over the congo. Forced out by term limits after 17 years, president joseph kabila says he would accept an opposition victory in elections this month. Jun 14, 2018 the prime minister of the democratic republic of congo drc has said that president joseph kabila will not seek a third mandate in the countrys delayed elections because of constitutional term limits that prevent him from running again. Dec 20, 2018 twentyone candidates are vying to replace kabila, who is stepping down due to term limits. It is likely that joseph kabila, who has managed to delay polls since his mandate ended in 2016, will continue to do so. In january 2015, he tried to pass an electoralreform bill mandating a census before the 2016 presidential election.
Joseph kabila came to power in the democratic republic of congo in 2001, ruling during a period of bloody insurgencies and deadly protests against his extended mandate. People with higher levels of education, men, and young urban residents all tend to favor term limits at higher rates than people with less education, women, and older rural residents. Tanzania, telecom, term limits, third term, twitter, union, unmanned aviation, violent protests, zambia, zanzibar, zimbabwe, zuma. Dec 17, 2016 president joseph kabila, center, in november in kinshasa, democratic republic of congo. Joseph kabila succeeded his late father, laurent kabila, as president, following the latters assassination in 2001.
The democratic republic of congos president joseph kabila. Dr congos current president joseph kabila will not seek a third mandate in the countrys upcoming december elections because of constitutional term limits that prevent him from running again, prime minister bruno tshibala said. President joseph kabila, center, in november in kinshasa, democratic republic of congo. A congolese protester holds a book of the drcs constitution in defiance against the president of the democratic republic of the congo, joseph kabila, at a protest demanding him to step down on december 20, 2016 in pretoria. Elections in the democratic republic of the congo accord. Kabila was barred by term limits from standing for a new term after 18 years in power. Kabila has been ruling in defiance of term limits, remaining president two years after he was required to leave office in 2016. The democratic republic of congos critical juncture. After nearly two decades in power, joseph kabila seems determined to cling to the presidency in defiance of constitutionally mandated term limits.
Joseph kabilas presidential ambitions could push congo to the. In an increasingly unstable central african region, joseph kabila, president of the democratic republic of the congo drc, appears poised to be the next african leader to sidestep the relinquishing of power and the election of his successor, constitutionally mandated for november 2016. Kabila not only violated the law, he broke the peace agreement. That applies to president joseph kabila in the democratic republic of congo, who has managed to extend his term beyond the constitutional limits. Felix tshisekedi inaugurated as president of congo the. The legal system of the democratic republic of the. An election crisis in democratic republic of congo could mean war analysis.
Since stepping down after the 2018 election, kabila, as a former president, will be a senator for life, according to the constitution of the drc. The democratic republic of the congo pronunciation help info french. Aug 26, 2017 the west seems more interested in keeping joseph kabila in power than allowing the congolese to free themselves from his rule. Congolese president felix tshisekedi, right, receives the presidential sash from outgoing president joseph kabila after being sworn in in kinshasa. Joseph kabila, congo, term limits, and power hunger. Congo leader kabila must choose between reform and. Intervention by the catholic church secured a deal that allows for polls to be held this year but the elections body has said it is not possible for. For longserving presidents in subsaharan africa, there are few incentives to step down. President joseph kabila, in power since 2001, is bound by term limits to step down after having won elections in 2006 and 2011. Joseph kabila will not be moved for longserving presidents in subsaharan africa, there are few incentives to step down.
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