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DR Congo opposition rejects facilitator for political dialogue

Xinhua, July 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Opposition members in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) under the umbrella of the Rally for Change Forces have rejected the facilitator of dialogue appointed by the African Union (AU), Edem Kodjo.

In a statement released late Sunday and signed by the group's leader Etienne Tshisekedi, the grouping that brings together several Congolese opposition parties, denounced among other issues, "the rush with which Kodjo unilaterally announced the launch of sittings for the preparatory committee of the dialogue."

Kodjo, the facilitator appointed by the AU, announced that preparatory committee will start sitting on July 30, 2016.

In the statement, the opposition group regretted that commitments made during a meeting between its members and a group supporting the facilitation in Belgium had not been honoured.

"Kodjo did not respect agreements reached during the last meeting in Belgium," said Augustin Kabuya, the national secretary of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Tshisekedi's party.

Members of UDPS political bureau further accused Kodjo of acting like the head of government, and asked AU to choose another facilitator for DR Congo's dialogue.

Last week, the facilitator for Congolese dialogue announced there was no longer any obstacle on the path for dialogue.

DR Congo President Joseph Kabila convened dialogue last year, to bring the Congolese political class together to find a peaceful solution to the controversy surrounding the presidential elections that were supposed to be held later this year. Endit