Opposition parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo formed a coalition that will back Moise Katumbi’s candidacy for president in elections scheduled for December. The announcement marks the start of what’s expected to be a series of declarations by candidates seeking to challenge President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the central African nation for 17 years. Congo, Africa’s biggest copper producer and the world’s largest source of cobalt, has not had a peaceful transfer of power since independence almost six decades ago. "You have chosen me to lead us to the coming elections," Katumbi told a gathering of supporters in Johannesburg. "I call for unity among the opposition because we have to work together, hand in hand, to go towards free and transparent elections." Congo was supposed to hold elections in 2016 at the end of Kabila’s second term. Opposition leaders have previously accused Kabila, in power since 2001, of intentionally delaying the vote to retain power and change the c...
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