KINSHASA, Congo (AP) 鈥� Congo’s president warned on Wednesday that the African nation will not be able to organize and hold elections after his term ends in two years unless the conflict that has gripped the country’s east is resolved and stability returns.
The remarks by Congolese President , whose term expires in December 2028, came during a televised address to the nation in which he discussed a range of topics, including under a deal with the Trump administration.
Congo鈥檚 decades-long , when the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma, followed by the town of as they seek to expand their presence. The fighting has killed some 3,000 people and worsened what was already one of , with around 7 million people displaced.
A U.S.-mediated and other efforts have stumbled.
鈥淚f we cannot end this war, unfortunately we will not be able to organize elections in 2028,鈥� said Tshisekedi.
“But it will not be because I refused to organize them, the resources are there we can do it, but we cannot organize them without North Kivu and South Kivu,鈥� he added, referring to two eastern provinces.
Even before this year’s escalation, eastern Congo had been battered by decades of unrest, with government forces fighting more than 100 armed groups 鈥� 鈥� often over .
Tshisekedi, who is on his second term now, a limit under the constitution, indicated he could pursue a third term.
鈥淚 have not sought a third term, but I tell you: If the people want me to have a third term, I will accept,” he said, adding that a referendum on the constitution would have to take place first to approve an amendment allowing a president to seek more than two terms.
Critics swiftly denounced Tshisekedi’s address. Congolese politician Andr茅 Claudel Lubaya said that Tshisekedi was citing a supposed will of the people 鈥渢o justify a fraudulent intention.鈥�
Seth Kikuni, a two-time presidential candidate, said on X that if Tshisekedi 鈥渢hreatens to seize power鈥� in 2028, there would be only one option left for the opposition 鈥� “to cross the Rubicon and throw the dice.鈥�
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