Joseph Kabila took over as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2001, after his father’s assassination. By law, Kabila’s tenure should have ended two years ago, yet he has continued to delay the constitutionally mandated election for a successor. The long-awaited election was finally set to take place on Dec. 23. But Kabila is attempting to tighten his grasp on power, and he has secured another delay, pushing the election to Dec. 30.
Kabila has made it clear that he has no intention of quietly giving up control even once he is out of office. He is doing everything possible to determine the outcome of the election in favor of his hand-picked candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.
Earlier this week, Kabila associates banned all political activity in the DRC’s largest city just as opposition candidate Martin Fayulu was about to hold a rally. Last week, peaceful demonstrations in support of opposition candidates were met with brutal police force resulting in deaths, injuries, and unwarranted arrests. In January, Kabila ordered that the internet, social media, and e-mail all be blocked ahead of protests calling for his resignation. Over the past two years, Kabila has otherwise limited access to the media and sought to neutralize any potential opponents.
The heavy price the Congolese people pay
Violence and repression are hardly new tactics for President Kabila. His track record of atrocities is long and particularly gruesome. His rampant corruption, liberal use of violence, severe disregard for the people of his country, and suppression of democratic rights in the DRC feed the instability that has led to the deaths of millions of people during his nearly 20 years of control.
Last year, authorities used live shots and tear gas to break up protests in the DRC that resulted from stalling talks on the transfer of power. In March of 2017, the bodies of two humanitarian aid workers were discovered, and UN representatives have uncovered more than 80 mass graves containing thousands of deceased. Further, the BBC reported that conflict forced 1.7 million people to flee their homes in the DRC in 2017 alone, making the country one of the world’s most heavily affected by conflict displacement.
As someone who has observed the political crisis in the DRC for several years, it has been especially heartening to see recent reports and videos showing tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters voicing their calls for a change in leadership in the run-up to this month’s election.
However, the government’s violence against its citizens this past week is a disturbing indication that the elections -- if they are permitted to occur -- will not be open, free, and transparent.
The United States and other freedom-loving countries have an indispensable role in promoting democracy around the world. U.S. presidents from both sides of the aisle have long understood the vital part that America plays in exporting democracy. Former President George W. Bush in his 2006 State of the Union address said “[o]ur nation is committed to a historic, long-term goal: We seek the end of tyranny in our world.” And during a visit to Africa, former President Barack Obama declared that “Africa does not need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.”
In addition, there are geopolitical implications to the ongoing upheaval in the region. China has been accumulating a vast share of the country’s cobalt for its own use -- rumored estimates report that the nation is on track to control 60 percent of the nation’s supply. This stockpile stands to threaten U.S. national security and is a further reason to ensure that this vital election moves forward unimpeded.
Unfortunately, in the weeks leading up to the election, the international community has erred by asking opposition candidates to avoid violence. That mandate must be placed on the Kabila regime that is perpetrating the violence. In fact, the people being attacked are almost exclusively peaceful demonstrators acting out in support of anti-Kabila candidates.
The United States, members of the Southern African Development Community, and the European Union are all on record calling for Kabila to step down, hold a fair election, and allow for a peaceful transition of power. Now, democratic nations in the region and around the world must redouble their efforts to ensure that the long-overdue presidential election is held in a free and fair way. If, as we fear, the final election results lack credibility, the international response must be swift and forceful, creating space for the Congolese people to peacefully protest and ultimately to secure democratic change.
The Democratic Republic of Congo must transition the presidency in peace and harmony and must do it now. U.S. officials can and should play a part in ensuring that process reaches a successful conclusion. They must immediately denounce the election delay.
Craig Stevens, is a former senior official within the George W. Bush Administration. These views expressed are his own, however, Mr. Stevens is a registered agent through his employer DCI Group AZ, L.L.C. for Akin Gump Straus Hauer and Feld LLP on behalf of Mr. Martin Fayulu and Mr. Moise Katumbi; additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. For more information on the election you can follow @DRCElectionInfo on Twitter.
