‘Elections Were Powerless in DR Congo’ – Mo Ibrahim and Kofi Annan Foundation

On 24 January 2019, Felix Tshisekedi was sworn into office as the president of Democratic Republic of Congo in what The Irish Times dubbed ‘a dubious democratic transition’, and many election observers reported that the elections were marred by irregularities and gross malpractice.

Yet, the West and other democracy defenders across the globe has kept mute on the unfolding activities in the country.

Although there are accusations of a suspicions backroom deal between outgoing president, Joseph Kabila, and Felix Tshisekedi, for Kabila to indirectly remain in office, there is very little been done to investigate the allegations.

Joseph Kabila, who ruled the country for 18 years, took over office from his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila - who died in power by assassination on 16 January 2001.

The Sudanese billionaire businessman, philanthropist and Democracy defender, Mo Ibrahim, who is head of the Mo Ibrahim foundation – an organization established in 2006 with a focus on the critical importance of leadership and governance in Africa, has given his thoughts on the DR Congo elections, describing it as a defeat to democracy.

Democracy was defeated in the last elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, according to heads of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the Kofi Annan Foundation.

Mo Ibrahim was speaking to the French news portal - Le Monde, in company Alan Doss – President of the Kofi Annan Foundation when he made the remarks.

They expressed worry at the manner in which the international community is warming up to the new president warning that the consequences of today’s so-called stability could be costly.

“What is even more disturbing is that seeing that elections are powerless to change things, the Congolese people are likely to turn to other methods to overthrow the unbearable status quo that makes the vast majority of the population trample in poverty while a handful of individuals at the top of the state amassed fortunes.

There are already sounds of boots in the east, which has a heavy history of insurrection. There are already dozens of active armed groups that could be mobilized. Many DRC neighbors will be affected if a new wave of widespread violence erupts in the Congo.

Over the past two decades, the international community has invested billions of dollars in the DRC in an attempt to stabilize the country and its regional environment and steer it towards a democratic, fair and prosperous future.

By passively accepting this accomplished fact, all this investment will have been heavily compromised,” they said.

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