The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila plans to respect the constitution by naming his successor and stepping down after elections scheduled for December.
Speaking to VOA’s French to Africa language service, Kabila spokesman Lambert Mende said despite delays the government is finishing voter registration in remote areas of the country and is on track to hold elections according to the timetable set by the electoral commission.
Mende stated clearly that Mr. Kabila has no intentions of seeking reelection and he will choose a candidate to compete in the poll in July.
According to the country’s constitution, the president cannot seek a third consecutive term in office.
Kabila took over power in 2001 from his father Laurent Kabila following his assassination. In 2006 he was elected president and reelected for a second term in 2011.
At the end of his mandate in 2016, President Kabila refused to step down prompting protests which have since led to displacement of its citizens, many of whom are now seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Dozens of people have been killed in the past year in protests against Kabila’s refusal to step down in December 2016, and delays in calling new elections.
