PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU Summit presses for dialogue on inclusive govt in DR Congo
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui held talks with President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday at the ongoing Assembly of African Heads of State about the possibility of forming a national unity government.
The AU official said the electoral process in the DRC was more complex, but the response by the general population in the Central African nation is a signal of the peoples’ readiness to move forward.
“It was not easy with an Ebola outbreak in one region and the armed violence in the Eastern region. The day after the elections, there were celebrations and some of the armed groups surrendered their arms. This is a signal we cannot ignore,” Chergui told reporters at a news conference on the sidelines of the AU Summit.
President Tshisekedi received a warm welcome by the African heads of state at the Summit during the opening ceremony, where he was named the third Vice Chair of the organisation.
At one moment, fellow heads of state left their seats to greet the newly-elected Congolese leader, who emerged as the surprise winner of the elections.
Congolese opposition leader Martin Fayulu continues to question the legitimacy of President Tshisekedi and went ahead to call on the AU Summit to arrange fresh elections in six months to resolve the issue.
Chergui said he held talks with President Tshisekedi, who stated that he was open to dialogue on the formation of an inclusive government in the DRC.
There have been proposals for the Congolese President to appoint Fayulu or a nominee from his coalition to the position of Prime Minister.
A pre-election agreement signed between Tshisekedi and his ally, Vital Kamerhe, promised the post of Prime Minister, which according to the constitution, must be the leader of the party with the largest number of parliamentarians in the country.
Chergui said the immediate priority in the DRC should be the restoration of peace and stability in the Eastern part of the country, where armed movements continue to threaten political stability.
He said the institutions of government in the DRC should also be seen to be functional.
-0- PANA AO/AR 11Feb.2019
The AU official said the electoral process in the DRC was more complex, but the response by the general population in the Central African nation is a signal of the peoples’ readiness to move forward.
“It was not easy with an Ebola outbreak in one region and the armed violence in the Eastern region. The day after the elections, there were celebrations and some of the armed groups surrendered their arms. This is a signal we cannot ignore,” Chergui told reporters at a news conference on the sidelines of the AU Summit.
President Tshisekedi received a warm welcome by the African heads of state at the Summit during the opening ceremony, where he was named the third Vice Chair of the organisation.
At one moment, fellow heads of state left their seats to greet the newly-elected Congolese leader, who emerged as the surprise winner of the elections.
Congolese opposition leader Martin Fayulu continues to question the legitimacy of President Tshisekedi and went ahead to call on the AU Summit to arrange fresh elections in six months to resolve the issue.
Chergui said he held talks with President Tshisekedi, who stated that he was open to dialogue on the formation of an inclusive government in the DRC.
There have been proposals for the Congolese President to appoint Fayulu or a nominee from his coalition to the position of Prime Minister.
A pre-election agreement signed between Tshisekedi and his ally, Vital Kamerhe, promised the post of Prime Minister, which according to the constitution, must be the leader of the party with the largest number of parliamentarians in the country.
Chergui said the immediate priority in the DRC should be the restoration of peace and stability in the Eastern part of the country, where armed movements continue to threaten political stability.
He said the institutions of government in the DRC should also be seen to be functional.
-0- PANA AO/AR 11Feb.2019
