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AngolaCongo-KinshasaPoliticsSouth Africa
Home›African Arguments›Country›Southern›Angola›“Never Betray Congo”: A warning to the SADC Summit

“Never Betray Congo”: A warning to the SADC Summit

By Aditi Lalbahadur
August 18, 2017
5908
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South Africa's Jacob Zuma (left) and Angola's Jose Eduardo Dos Santos (centre) enjoy good relations with DRC's Joseph Kabila (right). Credit: GCIS.

South Africa and Angola’s leaders may be preoccupied with domestic events, but they ignore Congo at the region’s peril.

South Africa's Jacob Zuma (left) and Angola's Jose Eduardo Dos Santos (centre) enjoy good relations with DRC's Joseph Kabila (right). Credit: GCIS.

This weekend, as the Southern African Development (SADC) heads of state meet in Pretoria to discuss developments in the region, they will do so under new stewardship from Angola and South Africa. Angola will assume leadership of the Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC). South Africa assumes overall chairmanship.

More than any of the other 13 SADC members, these two countries have an instrumental role to play in influencing a positive outcome for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). President José Eduardo dos Santos and President Jacob Zuma Africa both enjoy good relationships with President Joseph Kabila, which they have leveraged to engage the Congo on related issues through the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR).

However, both Angola and South Africa are currently facing seismic domestic shifts that are likely to distract them from unfolding events in the DRC. On 23 August – just days after the Summit – Angolans will go to the polls, following which President dos Santos is expected to step down after 38 years in office. Power is likely to transfer to long-time dos Santos supporter and ruling MPLA stalwart João Lourenço. But uncertainty remains around how the new president is likely to deal with the dynastic power of the first family, who occupy strategic positions of wealth and authority over the country’s resources.

[Angola’s ruling family is worth billions. What happens when dad steps down?]

In South Africa, President Zuma’s position has never been more precarious. On 8 August, he survived his eighth vote of no confidence – performed for the first time by secret ballot – with the narrowest margin yet. The final tally shows significant party dissent as approximately 15% of ruling African National Congress (ANC) MPs voted for the motion.

The ANC is fractured, and factional infighting is likely to ramp up ahead of the party’s elective conference in December that will decide Zuma’s successor. Many analysts doubt he will remain South Africa’s president for much longer after that.

[Why Zuma’s eventual departure won’t solve South Africa’s woes]

Tragedy imminent

In spite of these pressing developments, it is imperative that regional leaders not lose sight of the fact that tragedy is once again imminent in the DRC.

Amidst opposition calls for President Kabila to hold elections – meant to have been staged in 2016 – Congolese citizens continue to pay with their lives. In September 2016, 50 people in Kinshasa died in clashes with police protesting the announcement that government would not hold elections that year. Now, in August 2017, reports are circulating about the deaths of 14 people –branded as secessionist rebels from the group Bundu dia Kongo – at the hands of state security forces in the capital.

More frighteningly, a mounting humanitarian crisis has been developing in the Kasai region bordering Angola. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report in early-August, which found that more than 250 people, including 62 children, were killed in the DRC between mid-March and mid-June, mainly in Kasai.

[Don’t look away now: DR Congo is at greatest risk than for years]

In a ministerial mission to DRC in April 2017, the SADC Troika – the three-member leadership – of the OPDSC did little more than release a statement, which “condemned the escalation of violence and insecurity in the Kasai Provinces…and encouraged the Government to strengthen the capacity and presence of local state institutions”.

In the same release, SADC ministers congratulated President Kabila for his efforts in pushing the political process forward. Yet by July, the head of DRC’s electoral body was announcing that the government would not be holding elections as promised by December 2017.

[Slippage in the DR Congo: Where are the UN and South Africa?]

For all its rhetoric of furthering regional integration, encouraging multilateralism and building strong institutions, SADC is still largely driven by the will of individual political leaders. If South Africa and Angola give in to their pressing domestic circumstances, it minimises the opportunities for proactive engagement in preventing a political crisis in the region come December. The regional organisation must take a greater interest in the unfolding events in the DRC and in overcoming the impasse regarding the handover of power from Kabila. A peaceful outcome is necessary not just for the DRC but the entire region.

As SADC leaders meet to discuss developments in the Congo this weekend, let them be reminded of the words presiding over former President Laurent Kabila’s Mausoleum in Kinshasa: “Ne Jamais Trahir le Congo”. Never Betray Congo. The world, and the Congo, is watching.

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Aditi Lalbahadur

Aditi Lalbahadur is the Programme Manager of the Foreign Policy Programme at the SA Institute of International Affairs.

2 comments

  1. Henry Price 18 August, 2017 at 19:06

    comrades which is lesser of evils people of DRC face? Which will provide upward economic mobility plus upgrade living conditions without turning nation over to colonialists? However, to do anything worthwhile in DRC we need bring beast of colonialist instilled selfishness Buntu leaders possess under control. If we fail at that we will fail at all other meaningful conditions we try to fulfill in DRC. In short there is not room for oppressive selfishness being it lead African leaders to lead in manner which keep them in power when what Africa desperately need are leaders who manage their government in a way which are in people best interest. Conditions plus suitable goals requirements make it impossible to satisfy African leaders selfishness desires to control plus develop nation in Buntu best interest. To satisfy leaders selfishness assure Buntu will reenter to being controlled by colonialists plus forced to endure great poverty plus misery although God have made it possible for all Buntu under criteria of modern living conditions to Live Well as minimum of living conditions where they are capable plus willing to work. It is time for Buntu return to having good life they deserve. Very much sincere, Henry Price Jr. aka Obediah Buntu IL-Khan aka Kankan aka Gue.

  2. Monte McMurchy 25 August, 2017 at 15:06

    DRC is at present a nation state roiling with anticipation tremulous as Joseph Kabila in action is evincing extreme reluctance in giving up the prerequisites inclusive of power as DRC President.
    The DRC electoral commission CENI is in reality an institutional enabler to Kabila’s theft of rule of law ascribed to the DRC Constitution.
    A National Transition Authority [NTA] subscribing to the ‘Caretaker Convention’ is for the peoples of DRC the only effective public administrative instrument ensuring minimal to no violence.
    This NTA is to have only one mandate which is that of effecting national elections immediately.
    The ‘caretaker’ convention ensures that this NTA is to be circumscribed in executive functional status as this NTA will have no authority to negotiate economic contracts in self serving the 9 Members who make up this NTA.
    Effective January 1/18, Joseph Kabila will no longer be deemed legitimate as President as even now the legitimacy of Kabila is in reality a ‘de facto’ form of legitimacy scaffolded within the confines of the December 31/16 St. Sylvester agreement whereby Kabila was allowed to occupy the office of president with the strict proviso that national elections be completed prior to the end of 2017.
    This has not happened.
    Joseph Kabila can no longer be trusted.
    Therefore, effective January 1/18, this NTA must become the Institutional Instrument charged solely in facilitating national elections meaning new different CENI Leadership. This change in CENI Leadership will ensure the civic civil social electoral process within mien effective efficient to standard will be accomplished.
    The International Community of Nations must now clearly unambiguous state to Joseph Kabila that he will no longer be considered legitimate as DRC President as of January 1/18.
    I am confident further logistical administrative details concerning this NTA will soon be forthcoming.
    Appreciate, this NTA is congruent in law to the DRC Constitution.
    The most fine peoples of DRC are thirsting for a peaceful non violence change in leadership.
    These peoples are seeking legitimacy in leadership selection with no recourse to violence; as violence destroys the social fibre and soul of a nation.

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