Death of Congo’s Tshisekedi undermines 2017 transition
Etienne Tshisekedi, who died on Wednesday, was expected to take over the presidency in a country that has never experienced a peaceful transition of power
Kinshasa — The death on Wednesday of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi leaves opponents of President Joseph Kabila seriously weakened in their bid to force Kabila to quit power after he defied constitutional term limits to stay on last year. The Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power and Kabila’s refusal to stand down when his final term expired in December has raised fears that the chronically unstable country could slide back into civil war. Despite his 84 years and failing health, Tshisekedi known as "the Sphinx" for his sparse but profound statements, remained the undisputed leader of the opposition to Kabila. He was expected to head a transitional council to oversee Kabila’s exit by the end of this year under a deal struck on December 31. On Thursday, as hundreds of mourners congregated in front of a hastily erected, candlelit shrine at his house in Kinshasa, many said they had little faith that anyone else could carry o...
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