President of the DRC keeps his suspense on his political projects

KINSHASA (AFP) – President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) kept his country informed of his political plans five months before the crucial elections.

In a state-of-the-nation speech that had sparked intense speculation of an announcement, Kabila promised to stay on December 23 for the poll, and "unequivocally respect the constitution".

But, in a long speech enumerating the policies of his government, Kabila did not specify "

" This is what the Congolese people expect from someone who considers themselves an eternal monarch, "said opposition MP Claudel Andre Lubaya.

A spokesman for the Union for Democracy and Progress, a prominent opposition party, told AFP that a "muscular reaction" had occurred place yesterday, without giving details.

Kabila heads the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa since 2001.

He was just 29 years old when he took over the presidency of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who was murdered by a bodyguard.

Dozens of people have been killed in protests since the end of 2016, when Kabila was scheduled to retire at the end of his second term elected, technically the last permit under the constitution. Kabila retained power through a constitutional clause allowing him to remain in office until the election of a successor.

New elections should have been held in December 2016, but they have been postponed to 2017 and should now be held on December 23

The United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the United States World powers have repeatedly urged the authorities to stand on the last polling day and to ensure that the poll is fair, free and credible. The African Union Peace and Security Council and Peace Council declared Thursday in a joint statement that the elections "should lead to a peaceful and democratic transfer of power, in accordance with the constitution".

The UN headquarters in New York also threatened "appropriate measures against all Congolese actors" that hinder the organization of elections.

Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) Director for Central Africa Ida Sawyer said: "Increased pressure is needed to convince (Kabila) to change direction."

Sawyer left DR Congo in 2016 after working in the country for a decade when Kinshasa revoked his visa, apparently because of frequent criticism of HRW. The situation of rights

Some experts fear that the vast troubled country, which has known two great wars in 22 years, does not become a bloodbath if the election is postponed or deemed fraudulent.

Offers go from July 25th to August 8th.

A few hours before the speech, the pro-democracy pro-democracy movement Lucha writes on his Twitter account that if Kabila declared his candidacy, "let's all get up to force him immediately,"

And if Kabila chooses not to seek another term, "continue to demand real elections, which is impossible with him and his CENI (National Electoral Council) in control," his id.