UN: 17 new mass graves found in central DRC
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 - United Nations investigators have found 17 new mass graves in the Democratic Republic of Congo , in an area that has seen fighting between soldiers and members of a local armed group, according to the UN rights chief.
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Telema With The Congolese People
Congolese youth have intensified their courageous stance for peace, justice and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They descended into the streets beating pans, blowing whistles and chanting to signal the departure of Joseph Kabila. This providential date of December 19th, was the last day Joseph Kabila was to serve as president of the DRC per the country's constitution. Unfortunately, President Kabila has demonstrated that he is determined to remain in power by any means necessary, including ordering his security forces to execute and jail innocent civilians. He has been given a one-year extension due to a deal negotiated by the Catholic Church.
Key segments of the youth are calling for a robust resistance movement, grounded in non-violent, disruptive, civil disobedience and direct actions. Join in solidarity with the youth who are undertaking a sublime and dignified struggle for lasting change in the heart of Africa.Take Four Actions Right Now to Support the Congolese youth:
1. Make a financial contribution to help sustain the youth's ongoing actions inside the Congo.
2. Update your social media profile(s) and share images and stories from youth inside the country by using #Telema.
3. Encourage your family, friends, loved ones and others in your network to support the Congo youth movement.
4. Appeal to your organization(s) to send a solidarity statement supporting the #Telema social justice movement in the D.R. Congo.
Click here to find out more about ways in which you can stand with the Congolese people!
Breaking The Silence Speakers Tour
February - July 2017
Join Friends of the Congo as we tour the US, Canada and Africa throughout the Spring of 2017 to engage local communities around the social justice movement unfolding in the heart of Africa. Click here to find out how you can participate in the movement!
Constitutional Battle in the DRC
The DRC's Constitution limits the office of Presidency to two five-year terms. Joseph Kabila, the current DRC president's second five-year term (2011-2016) will expire on December 19, 2016, however, members of his party have argued for changing the constitution so that Kabila can run for a third term. Civil society groups, opposition parties, the catholic Church, notable figures in the DRC and others have successfully resisted changes to the constitution or the electoral laws that would legitimize Kabila's stay in power beyond the end of his second term.
In response to the staunch resistance, Joseph Kabila has opted to pursue a strategy of "glissement" (a French word that means slippage). His government has sought to prevent elections from being organized that would result in a new president and new administration. The rationale behind this strategy is that if no elections are organized, then Kabila would remain in power until such date that elections are organized. The fact that he has opted to follow this strategy of last resort is because almost all other avenues for his remaining in power have been blocked by the Congolese people. The main question now is whether the people can usher Kabila out of power in order to facilitate a transition to a new administration.
Find out more about the battle for a peaceful transition of power in the DRC>>
