Congo hits back as Botswana blames president for crisis

Bloomberg

The Democratic Republic of Congo reacted angrily to Botswana’s claim that President Joseph Kabila’s decision to remain in power is stoking instability in the vast central African nation.
Congo’s communications minister dismissed as “nonsense” the comments from Botswana, which represented the most strident criticism yet of Kabila by an African government. It comes as militia violence flares in Congo’s restive east, exacerbating countrywide insecurity that’s forced 5 million people from their homes.
Botswana shouldn’t interfere in Congo’s internal affairs, Lambert Mende said by phone from the capital, Kinshasa, accusing its government of “trying to please some powerful friends.” The European Union, US and Switzerland have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Kabila allies including Mende for alleged rights abuses and blocking the electoral process. Kabila, who’s ruled since 2001, was due to step down at the end of his second term in December 2016 after the election of a successor. The vote was postponed and Kabila has remained in office, sparking regular protests in which dozens of people have been killed by security forces. Kabila’s perceived illegitimacy has also become a rallying cry for some eastern militias, while conflict in the central Kasai region has claimed thousands of lives since August 2016.