Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Congo: diplomacy instead of pressure

Of the Congo head of state Joseph Kabila, cling to Power, although he would have to actually assign. The mood in the country is heated up, even abroad, the resentment grows. However, with the pressure of Western countries.

Joseph Kabila (left) and U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry at the US-Africa summit 2014

At least the US is trying it now with a little bit of pressure. Two weeks ago, they imposed sanctions against the Kabila-Familiar Celestin Kanyama: No American is allowed to make more transactions with the democratic Republic of the Congo, potential assets Kanyamas in the United States will be frozen. “A clear sign that the United States condemn the repressive and violent acts of the regime, especially by Celestin Kanyama,” said the U.S. Treasury Department. Kanyama, police chief of the capital, Kinshasa, is said to have been, among other things, for police operations in the case of Anti-Kabila demonstrations in the capital Kinshasa last year. Over 40 people died in the riots.

But the police chief is only superficial. The first Time that a Kabila-a Familiar is sanctioned, it is also a message to the head of state. The no longer applies in the West as a beacon of hope. “Joseph Kabila and his government have the expectations of the population in the Congo, and the foreign in him, and not met”, says Congo expert Ingo Badoreck, Secretary-General of the German Africa Foundation (DAS).

“From the perception of the horizon disappeared”

In December, Kabila ends second term as head of state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then he would have to go. But until now there is no official date for the presidential election. A setup that believes
Opposition. Because the constitutional court decided in may that he
the business remains a leader in the office, if the election can not be on time held. So far, Kabila has not said whether he has a
third term as head of state wants, however, many Congolese believe.

In 2012, Joseph Kabila was re-elected for a second term.

In the Congo, the tensions grow, but the foreign holding back. Very different in 2006 when Joseph Kabila was elected for the first Time to the office of President: Approximately 2,000 EU soldiers secured the first free elections after decades of dictatorship. The UN development programme funded the vote. All Western politicians of rank and name were.

Some observers wish for, given the hot political climate more involvement from abroad. “The Congo has disappeared from the German perception of the horizon”, writes the Africa-expert Dominic Johnson in the “daily newspaper”.

Europe relies on diplomacy

Not so, says the Federal government. It refers to the fact that in the Congo the UN’s largest Mission in the world is stationed. And: “Germany has supported the Congo per year, with approximately 260 million euros in development aid. Not to say that we look and do nothing, I don’t think is appropriate,” says George Schmidt, Africa envoy of the German foreign office, in the DW-interview.

Foreign Minister Steinmeier Joseph Kabila 2015 met in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Germany, like other EU countries, on diplomacy. “We try to talk with both sides to keep the contacts open, and we support the African Union mediator, so that there is a dialogue,” says a Diplomat Schmidt. To be able to more European countries by the rings. Sanctions are also discussed in the EU – but experts believe it is unlikely that the EU resorts to this means.

Western influence on Kabila fades

But diplomacy enough? In the Congo the influence of Western countries. As foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 2015 visited the Congo, Kabila refuse to have explained to him, according to the “mirror” that he, guess the German-Congolese cooperation, but interference from the outside. Already China and Russia are important partners in Kabila – mostly because you are interested in the mineral wealth of the Congo.

Overall, the European commitment remains far behind that of 2006. “There is at the Moment a different political situation. I have the impression that the complex problems in the Congo are heading after a decade of massive international support to the end,” says THE General Secretary of the Ingo Badoreck. “I think it is a bit to the point that it is said: Since the people of Congo have to find a solution for their own problems.”