US senators pushing for sanctions on DRC

Three U.S. senators on Friday called on Obama’s administration to impose sanctions on officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo responsible for violence and rights violations in the country.

The three democrats said that they had introduced a senate resolution this week calling on Kabila’s government to fulfill its constitutional mandate for a democratic transition of power later this year.

US Senators, Markey, Durbin, Murphy Introduce Resolution Calling for Democratic Transition of Power in #DRC #Congo https://t.co/I2NAH4dsfO

— congofriends (@congofriends) May 27, 2016

They called for targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, a move that is aimed at putting pressure on Kabila to publicly commit to a peaceful transition of power.

Kabila is ineligible to stand for re-election after serving two elected terms, but opponents accuse him of trying to delay the poll to hold onto power, after DRC’s highest court ruled that he could stay in power beyond his mandate if elections don’t take place.

Tentatively DRC should head to the polls in November this year, but there are fears that Kabila could stall the vote to extend his 15-year rule.

Opposition leaders have rallied anti-Kabila protests, and the rising political tensions have attracted attention from the international community.