AFRICA/DR CONGO - The Bishops: "National dialogue must respect the Constitution"

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - National dialogue proposed by President Joseph Kabila should be respectful of the Constitution and should not give rise to forms of transition or extraordinary institutions. This is what the Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo said in a statement sent to Agenzia Fides, signed by His Exc. Mgr. Nicolas Djomo, Bishop of Tshumbe and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO).
The Bishops reaffirm their no to any constitutional changes that could open the path for a third term for President Kabila, whose term expires in 2016. The Congolese Constitution provides for only two presidential terms.
The message said that "dialogue is the path and peaceful solution to the crisis. It is a constituent element of any democratic system". "We need to emphasize that dialogue must take place in full respect of the constitutional and institutional framework in force. To do otherwise would result in danger, with incalculable consequences for the nation".
Regarding the elections, to be held in 2016, CENCO had proposed an electoral calendar so timetabled: provincial, parliamentary and presidential elections. But given the organizational and financial problems (see Fides 30/10/2015), CENCO proposes to postpone the local elections in 2017 to give priority to the legislative and presidential elections. The national dialogue proposed by President Kabila aims to involve Congolese political and social forces to find a common solution to the impasse caused by the postponement of local elections. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2015)

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