A United Nations official says the electoral crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become a constitutional crisis with no end in sight.
Maman Sambo Sidikou, the UN’s special representative for DRC, told the Security Council on Tuesday that parties on all sides appear increasingly willing to resort to violence to achieve their ends.
“If this trajectory continues, I believe large-scale violence is all but inevitable,” Sidikou said, adding that the scope of the threats “dramatically outstrip the (UN peacekeeping) mission’s capabilities.”
Tensions in DRC have risen as it has become increasingly apparent that President Joseph Kabila will stay in office after his term expires in December. DRC’s electoral commission said November’s scheduled presidential vote wouldn’t be possible until 2018, and a court has said Kabila can stay in power until the next election.
