Deadline for new government in DRC looms

The deadline for the formation of a new government in the Democratic Republic of Congo looms with members of various political divide failing to struck a deal that would see the central African state ease tension that has culminated from Kabila’s prolonged stay in office.

Members of both the opposition and the government through the assistance of the Catholic Church Bishops signed a deal on a new years eve that would allow polls to be conducted by the end of this year and keep president Joseph Kabila till then.

But the deal’s survival is not assured as DRC’s Catholic church says the two sides have until this saturday to reach an agreement.

The agreement provides for a new government system led by the Prime Minister from the largest opposition party and at the same time allowed Kabila to continue a one-year presidency but not to vie for the third time.

The government has denounced the opposition for imposing a prime minister to the president. The ruling party has argued that the opposition must present Kabila with five options.

Political experts say organizing polls by the end of this year might be difficult owing to the fact that gov’t finances are strained and DRC being vast and poorly connected.

In December 2016, the president of the electoral commission estimated that the full electoral package will cost $1.8 billion.