The democratic Republic of the Congo to choose in December for a new President. The Opposition has according to the experts, only with a common candidate a Chance. However, on the list much more names.
“Kabila,” calling for protesters in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa (file photo). Who comes after that?
Nearly 20 candidates could be on the final list of candidates, which will publish the Congolese election Commission tomorrow. Of the 25 names on the preliminary list has deleted six. The statement does not seem very promising for a new beginning in the war-torn Congo: strong is the influence of the Still-President Joseph Kabila. The had scheduled in August to its third – not the Constitution – candidacy omitted, but he sent, instead, his former interior Minister, Emmanuel ramazani was the photographer Shadary into the race. Shadary is Kabila faithful and has no strong base within the ruling party, experts say.
Little hope for change
“Shadary the desire is clearly a candidate of Joseph Kabila – he has him nominated. He is loyal to the President’s family. He should accept the office, there will be a Kabila-friendly course,” said Gesine Ames from the Ecumenical network Central Africa in an Interview with DW. “This leaves little hope that it comes to a change that is desired by the population due to the political and humanitarian Situation urgently,” added the Congo expert.
President Joseph Kabila is not standing in the elections in December
The 57-year-old Ex-Minister of the interior does not show, according to Ames, the best results in surveys. He came only “from the third series of” the people’s party for reconstruction and democracy (PPRD). In 2017, the European Union sanctioned him for human rights crimes in the Region of Kasai, he had the responsibility as a former Minister of the interior. “He carries a great load and is not very well known in the country. Nevertheless, he could win the first round,” says Ames. A second passage no longer exists: Since the Amendment of the electoral law, a simple majority is enough for victory. “I think the conditions are already bad from the start for a democratic election. It has developed more and more into a Farce,” said Ames.
Strong candidates excluded
Given this situation, it has the Opposition is not easy. Especially as their two main candidates, Jean-Pierre Bemba, and Moise Katumbi are not even on the list.
The Congolese electoral Commission had declared the commencement of Congo’s former Vice-President Bemba to be inadmissible. The former militia leader was convicted of war crimes by the International criminal court in The Hague to 18 years in prison. Although the court overturned the guilty verdict in June, in an appeal on the grounds of procedural error as a surprise. However, a further conviction, to a penalty for witness bribery.
The prominent government critic, Moise Katumbi has been prevented from exile in the democratic Republic of the Congo to enter the country and his candidacy to be submitted. The two leaders, which could Shadary be the most dangerous, and thus not even on the ballot.
Felix Tshisekedi is one of the two most prominent opposition candidates compete in the election
Thus, the former President of Parliament Vital Kamerhe, and Felix Tshisekedi, the son of the deceased in the past year politician Etienne Tshisekedi back, further into the spotlight. “Each of these candidates has a degree of support, but their bearings do not have such a heavy weight as that of the excluded candidates,” says Ames.
Opposition without Basis
The 59-year-old Economist Kamerhe is the Chairman of the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) and comes from the province of Kivu. He was politically controversial and the lack of financial possibilities to organize a large campaign, says Congo expert Ames. In the election campaign of 2006, he worked with Kabila and most of all had a share in it, that this is in the provinces of North and South Kivu, many voices. After that, he was President of the Parliament, and gave up this office, finally, in March 2009, pressure from Kabila, after Kamerhe had publicly expressed a critical view of this. In December 2010 Kamerhe resigned from the Kabila’s party PPRD, and founded the UNC.
Felix Tshisekedi took over last year as the successor of his father, the longtime Chairman of the Union for democracy and social progress (UDPS). This led to unrest in the Congo already, because there were also other contenders to the Post. “He has little political experience and is networked in the Congo. The base is missing,” says Ames. Tshisekedi has studied Marketing in Brussels and since 2011 in the Parliament.
Common Candidate?
Ben Shepherd, an employee of the British think tank Chatham House, looks for the Opposition in the Congo, many of the options in the choice: “she has only one realistic Chance, if you agree on a candidate. Because in the Congolese politics is not so much about programs, but about the ability to mobilize.” The voters want change in a system, adds Shepherd. “They see the political elites as being similar, all of which play the same game.” In the end, you would choose someone who supports your community. Shephard believes that the Opposition can agree on a strong candidate: “Therefore will win Shadary a choice.”