Church representatives quit DR Congo's political dialogue

Progress in the ongoing national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo is under threat after members of the church mediating in the dialogue decided to suspend its participation.

The decision follows a second day of violent protests that left several people dead.

The group said there are a number of issues that need to be addressed immediately.

In exclusive interview conducted by Africanews on its MorningCall program with Reverend Donatien Nshole, a member of the National Episcopal Conference, the group insisted that the national constitution must be respected.

“In the same report, the bishops have reminded us that in respect of the constitutional framework, any political agreement has to take into account certain fundamental issues. The first thing, it must be clearly established and stated that the current president of the republic will not run in the next presidential elections. That the dates of this expected elections be mentioned in this agreement, the plan for the disbursement of funds necessary for the elections be defined in this agreement. Its implementation by the monitoring committees who have to give a guarantee of all that has been decided upon. The writing will not be forgotten, so a committee has to be set up immediately,” said the reverend.

Opposition buildings including the Kinshasa headquarters were torched during clashes between the police and opponents of President Kabila’s administration.

The threat by parties involved in the talks to leave is based on the fact that the dialogue served as a forum to justify Kabila’s stay in power.