It is cheery news that President Joseph Kabila of D.R. Congo, has chosen former Interior minister, Ramazani Shadary, to be his successor in upcoming elections, thereby ending months of speculation. The announcement came just hours before the deadline for lodging applications for the December 23 election, which analysts say is crucial for the country’s future.
Mr. Shadary, a known loyalist of the President, is Permanent Secretary of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). The party has pledged to rally behind him.
President Kabila, aged 47, has been in power for 17 years, after taking over from his father, Laurent Kabila, who was killed by his bodyguard. His son was required to step down at the end of 2016 when he finished serving his two-term limit.
But he held on to power, thanks to a constitutional clause enabling the president to remain in office until a successor is elected. Political opponents staged protests that were bloodily repressed, causing the US and the European Union to respond angrily in total condemnation of the regime.
The African Union, AU, has reiterated calls for “all stakeholders to ensure peaceful, transparent and truly inclusive elections” in the DRC. Sixteen candidates, including three major opposition figures, have already submitted their names to the electoral commission.
However, Felix Tshisekedi, leader of Congo’s oldest opposition party UDPS, and Jean-Pierre Bemba, also aged 55, who was recently acquitted by the ICC are warming up to contest in the coming election.
