JOHANNESBURG - The southern African nation of Botswana has taken the unusual step of directly criticizing Congolese President Joseph Kabila, saying his refusal to hold long overdue elections is driving deadly violence and a growing humanitarian emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Botswana’s Foreign Ministry declined VOA’s request to elaborate on the statement, saying the words speak for themselves:

“Botswana urges the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation,” the statement reads. It is seen as a strong shot across the bow for a president who has remained in office well past the end of his term in December 2016.

Kabila has repeatedly postponed elections in what critics see as an attempt to retain power. As a result, the nation has seen growing political unrest, some of it backed by the powerful Catholic Church. The most recent round of protests saw two demonstrators killed by security forces and the arrests of several protesting clergymen.

No comment

Congolese officials did not answer repeated calls seeking comment about recent political developments.



Calls to the Archdiocese of Kinshasa went unanswered and its website appears to have been suspended.



Congolese political analyst Claude Kabemba praised Botswana’s bold statement.

“It’s a brilliant position,” he told VOA. “There is a consistency in Botswana’s position about democracy on the continent. I think that call for President Joseph Kabila, identifying him as the major stumbling block and problem in the Congo, coming from a country that is a member of SADC … it’s an important position to take in a region where countries seem to be, leaders, support each other and are afraid to criticize each other.”

A relative, carried by two men, reacts and mourns A relative, carried by two men, reacts to the death of a man who succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained during a protest called by the Catholic Church, to push for Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila to step down, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb. 25, 2018. A relative, carried by two men, reacts to the death of a man who succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained during a protest called by the Catholic Church, to push for Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila to step down, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb. 25, 2018.

Changes in the neighborhood

That reluctance to criticize may be disappearing after the recent leadership changes in Angola and South Africa, says Congo analyst Ben Shepherd, of Chatham House, a London-based research institution. He notes that Botswana’s statement hasn’t drawn a reaction from its neighbors.

“I think part of the subtext of what is going on right now is that there is a new president in Angola, which is historically the DRC’s most important regional ally/partner/policeman,” he said. “The Ramaphosa government in South Africa probably heralds a new beginning in South African regional engagement, although obviously it remains to be seen what form that takes. Patience may be running somewhat thin over the political impasse that kept Kinshasa’s politics from taking any steps forward of any description in recent years.” Shepherd was referring to new South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Botswana, Shepherd says, also played a key role in mediating the end of Congo’s last major war, and feels it needs to assert its moral authority to keep the southern African region stable.

Change from within this time?

But Kabemba says he doesn’t think Kabila will give any serious thought to Botswana’s statement - and, he says, that’s fine with him. Ultimately, he says, while Botswana’s support for democratic change is welcome, Congo’s change needs to come from within.

“What we’ve seen with Congo is that, most of the time, the change of regime of presidents has been orchestrated by external factors.... And I think we need to avoid that, and to support the Catholic Church, anybody who wants to help. [The right thing], is to support the Catholic Church to support the opposition to President Kabila, so that the change comes from within Congo, rather than being propulsed from outside.”

Still, he says, these words from Botswana matter. This is the second time the sparsely populated nation - which has just over 2 million people, compared to Congo’s nearly 80 million - has spoken out against an entrenched leader in the region.

The last time was two days before Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, in power for 38 years, succumbed to pressure to tender his resignation.</s>Botswana has urged the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, to step down.

In a press release titled ‘Refusal by some leaders to hand over power’, the ministry of international affairs said the ‘worsening humanitarian situation’ in DRC is fulled by the fact that ‘its leader has persistently delayed holding elections, and has lost control over the security of his country’.

The statemnt concludes by urging the international community to put pressure on the leadership of DRC to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation.

Government troops have clashed with opposition supporters following the refusal of President Kabila to leave office.

He took power in 2001 after his father’s assassination and had been expected to step down in 2016 after the two terms provided for in the constitution.

He has however stayed on citing logistical challenges that have prevented the organisation of elections that would usher in a new president.

A new date of December 23, 2018 has been set to hold the delayed poll but opposition supporters want Kabila to declare that he will not seek to change the country’s constitution to enable him seek another term in office.</s>Botswana has urged the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, to step down.

The foreign ministry said the situation is DR Congo is particularly bad “because its leader has persistently delayed holding elections, and has lost control over the security of his country”.

Government troops have clashed with opposition supporters following the refusal of President Mr Kabila to leave office.

He took power in 2001 after his father’s assassination and had been expected to step down in 2016.

He has however reneged on two deals to get him to leave office.

Another deal has set December this year as the deadline for him to hand over power but opposition supporters suspect that he will not.</s>related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

Botswana blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Monday for his country's humanitarian and security crisis, in the sharpest criticism yet from an African government of his refusal to step down.

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo: Botswana blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Monday for his country's humanitarian and security crisis, in the sharpest criticism yet from an African government of his refusal to step down.

Western powers have repeatedly criticised Kabila whose mandate expired in December 2016, but African countries have treaded more gently, urging progress toward long-delayed elections but avoiding direct condemnations of Kabila.

Congo emerged from a five-year war in 2003 that killed millions, most from hunger and disease, and the current political crisis has contributed to a surge of conflict that has forced millions to flee their homes.

"We continue to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in that country mainly because its leader has persistently delayed the holding of elections, and has lost control over the security of his country," Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs said in a statement.

Congolese officials were not immediately available for comment.

Botswana's statement comes amid fresh uncertainty about Kabila's diplomatic standing among key African states following the resignation of his close ally Jacob Zuma as South African president this month.

Kabila is facing mounting pressure in the streets to organise prompt elections. Security forces once again cracked down violently on a church-led march on Sunday, killing at least two people. More than a dozen protesters have been killed since December.

The statement by Botswana, one of Africa's most stable democracies, urged "the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation".

Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power and has attributed election delays to logistical and financial constraints.

However, he has refused to publicly rule out trying to change the constitution to remove term limits that prevent him from running for re-election, as the presidents of neighbouring Congo Republic and Rwanda have done.

Congo's political turmoil has emboldened the dozens of militia groups that operate in its mineral-rich eastern borderlands and is stoking fears the country could slip back into civil war.

At least eight people were killed on Monday following clashes between Nande and Hutu militias in North Kivu province, local official Hope Sabini told Reuters.</s>GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Botswana blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Monday for his country's humanitarian and security crisis, in the sharpest criticism yet from an African government of his refusal to step down.

 Western powers have repeatedly criticized Kabila whose mandate expired in December 2016, but African countries have treaded more gently, urging progress toward long-delayed elections but avoiding direct condemnations of Kabila. 

 Congo emerged from a five-year war in 2003 that killed millions, most from hunger and disease, and the current political crisis has contributed to a surge of conflict that has forced millions to flee their homes.

 "We continue to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in that country mainly because its leader has persistently delayed the holding of elections, and has lost control over the security of his country," Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs said in a statement.

 Congolese officials were not immediately available for comment. 

 Botswana's statement comes after the resignation of Kabila's close ally Jacob Zuma as South African president added to uncertainty about his standing among key African states. 

 Kabila is facing mounting pressure in the streets to organize prompt elections. Security forces once again cracked down violently on a church-led march on Sunday, killing at least two people. More than a dozen protesters have been killed since December.

 The police said on Monday that an officer had been arrested for violating orders by firing a rubber bullet at a protester from too close a range - less than 20 meters (yards), killing him. 

 However, a doctor at the hospital where the man, pro-democracy activist Rossy Mukendi, died on Sunday, told Reuters he had been hit in the heart by a bullet that had entered and exited his body. 

 The statement by Botswana, one of Africa's most stable democracies, urged "the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation".

 Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power and has attributed election delays to logistical and financial constraints. 

 However, he has refused to publicly rule out trying to change the constitution to remove term limits that prevent him from running for re-election, as the presidents of neighboring Congo Republic and Rwanda have done. 

 Congo's political turmoil has emboldened the dozens of militia groups that operate in its mineral-rich eastern borderlands and is stoking fears the country could slip back into civil war.

 At least eight people were killed on Monday following clashes between Nande and Hutu militias in North Kivu province, local official Hope Sabini told Reuters. 

 

 (Reporting by Fiston Mahamba; Additional reporting by Patient Ligodi; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Aaron Ross and Robin Pomeroy)</s>GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Botswana blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Monday for his country’s humanitarian and security crisis, in the sharpest criticism yet from an African government of his refusal to step down.

Western powers have repeatedly criticized Kabila whose mandate expired in December 2016, but African countries have trodden more gently, urging progress toward long-delayed elections but avoiding direct condemnations of Kabila.

Congo emerged in 2003 from a five-year war that killed millions, most from hunger and disease, and the current political crisis has contributed to a surge of conflict that has forced millions to flee their homes.

At least 22 people, including 15 civilians, were killed in the past two days in inter-ethnic clashes in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, a local official said.

“We continue to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in that country mainly because its leader has persistently delayed the holding of elections, and has lost control over the security of his country,” Botswana’s Ministry of International Affairs said in a statement.

Botswana’s statement comes after the resignation of Kabila’s close ally Jacob Zuma as South African president added to uncertainty about his standing among key African states.

Kabila is facing mounting pressure in the streets to organize prompt elections. Security forces killed at least two people at a church-led march on Sunday. More than a dozen protesters have been killed since December.

Police said on Monday that an officer had been arrested for violating orders by firing a rubber bullet at a protester from too close a range - less than 20 meters (yards), killing him.

However, a doctor at the hospital where the man, pro-democracy activist Rossy Mukendi, died on Sunday, told Reuters he had been hit in the heart by a bullet that had entered and exited his body.

The statement by Botswana, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, urged “the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation”.

Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power but has refused to publicly rule out trying to change the constitution to remove term limits that prevent him from running for re-election, as the presidents of neighboring Congo Republic and Rwanda have done.

Congo’s political turmoil has emboldened the dozens of militia groups that operate in its mineral-rich eastern borderlands.

Fifteen civilians and seven militiamen were killed in two separate attacks on Sunday and Monday by the Hutu-dominated Nyatura militia, local administrator Hope Sabini told Reuters.

The Nyatura fighters were going after a Nande-dominated militia called Mai Mai Mazembe in the villages of Kalusi and Bwalanda, Sabini said.</s>Botswana on Monday blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his country’s humanitarian and security crisis.

This is first time an African government has sharply criticised the Congolese President over his refusal to step down.

Botswana’s Ministry of International Affairs in a statement said, the continent continues to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in the DRC mainly because its leader has persistently delayed holding elections, and lost control over the security of his country.

DRC emerged in 2003 from a five-year war that killed millions, most from hunger and disease, and the current political crisis has contributed to a surge of conflict , forcing millions to flee their homes.

Botswana’s statement comes after the resignation of Kabila’s close ally Jacob Zuma as South African president added to uncertainty about his standing among key African states.

The statement by Botswana, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, urged “the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation”.

Kabila is facing mounting pressure in the streets to organise prompt elections. Security forces killed at least two people at a church-led march on Sunday. More than a dozen protesters have been killed since December.

Police said on Monday that an officer had been arrested for violating orders by firing a rubber bullet at a protester from too close a range – less than 20 metres (yards), killing him.

However, a doctor at the hospital where the man, pro-democracy activist Rossy Mukendi, died on Sunday, told Reuters he had been hit in the heart by a bullet that had entered and exited his body.

Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power but has refused to publicly rule out trying to change the constitution to remove term limits that prevent him from running for re-election, as the presidents of neighbouring Congo Republic and Rwanda have done.

Congo’s political turmoil has emboldened the dozens of militia groups that operate in its mineral-rich eastern borderlands.</s>Organizers of anti-government marches in Congo say security forces shot dead at least four people and wounded dozens more in Sunday’s nationwide protest against President Joseph Kabila’s extended rule.

The Lay Coordination Committee on Monday announced that people were killed in Kinshasa, Mbandaka and Kisangani. Church organizations have been staging demonstrations against long-delayed elections, and the international community has criticized Congolese security forces for violent crackdowns on the protests.

Kabila was meant to leave office in December 2016 but elections have been repeatedly postponed. Congo’s government now says the vote will be in December.

The United Nations mission in Congo says 47 people were wounded in Sunday’s protests and more than 100 were arrested. It calls on Congolese authorities to carry out credible investigations.</s>Security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have used live bullets to disperse demonstrations, killing at least two protesters.

The protests against President Joseph Kabila in the capital Kinshasa were organised by Catholic clergy.

Fifteen people, three of whom are thought to be members of the clergy, have been arrested.

Mr Kabila’s term ended in 2016, but he remains in power and many are angry about the political situation.
• What ‘Dr Love’ says about DR Congo

Church leaders have led a campaign calling on Mr Kabila to stand down.

Many Christians had planned to take to the capital’s streets after church services on Sunday.

But early on Sunday, security forces surrounded Kinshasa’s main churches and used teargas and gunfire to try to halt the protests.

One man was killed by a live bullet from security forces, staff at St Joseph’s hospital in the city told the BBC.

Another protestor was killed in the city of Mbandaka, 586 km (364 miles) north of the capital, the UN has confirmed.

Several people are reported to have been wounded as a result of the actions of the security forces.

Mr Kabila became president when his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001.

His final mandate expired at the end of 2016.

However, the government and opposition groups have failed to agree on a date for elections. BBC</s>President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left for the Democratic Republic of Congo on mission to brief the Congolese leader Joseph Kabila on the latest developments in Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa has been briefing Southern African heads of state on his rise to power through military intervention in November last year.

He has already been to South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana on a similar mission but his trip to DRC is unique because Kabila is under siege to step down.

Botswana yesterday called on Kabila to step down saying leaders like Kabila hold on to power because “such leaders are driven by self-interest instead of those of the people they govern”.

Kabila became leader of the DRC in January 2001 taking over from his father who was assassinated 10 days before he took office.

His rise to power was largely sponsored by Zimbabwe which was backing his father.

With the new dispensation in Southern Africa which has seen Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Jacob Zuma and Robert Mugabe go, eyes will be focusing on whether Mnangagwa can persuade Kabila to go quietly instead of waiting to be forced out.

Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe military had close ties to Kabila and the DRC through what they called Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (Osleg).

Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo is reported to have been one of the key players in the DRC operation.

Mnangagwa, who is marketing himself to the international community as a reformer who can get Zimbabwe back on its feet and to the international community, could score a major diplomatic coup if he persuades Kabila to step down. – Insider
In a public statement, the foreign ministry of Botswana urges Joseph Kabila, the President of DR Congo, to step down since his term expired in December 2016, and hold the long-delayed new election.