Geingob and the sticky affair of the DRC

JEMIMA BEUKES

Pressure is mounting on the SADC chair, Namibia, and its head of state President Hage Geingob, to implement his vision of a new Africa by showing leadership in the looming DRC election crisis, amongst others.

Namibia itself is set to hold its seventh election and for these reasons Geingob is expected to set the tone for free, fair and credible elections on the continent - but most importantly the sub-region.

When he took over as SADC chair late last year, Geingob assured leaders that he will encourage the peaceful transition of power to avoid conflicts.

All eyes are now on him to intervene in the DRC, a country haunted by decades of political violence and controversies, and a total absence of a peaceful transfer of power.

Local social commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah said there is no doubt an opportunity for Geingob to play a significant role in providing direction.

“Even if the body is dominated by old guard that are trying to protect each other, I think as a head, he can provide direction and influence and inspire. It depends on what kind of leadership he can provide and if he does that then he can turn the situation around,” said Kamwanyah.

Old dog, old tricks

On the other hand constitutional law expert Professor Nico Horn said there is very little that Geingob can do as SADC chair.

According to Horn there are too many irregularities in the DRC election process that it makes it difficult for an intervention.

“It is not a tradition for SADC leaders to criticise or question the internal position of SADC countries so I do not expect the president to do anything. He can also not act on his own, it is a SADC decision,” said Horn.

South African Professor Nixon Kariithi believes SADC has very little to do and may comment as an election observer, but that's about it.

“Previously, SADC has been uncritical of voting problems in member countries and is therefore unlikely to want to adopt a different stance for DRC. DRC has done what everyone prayed for, that is, hold an election after over half a century. We must accept that this was commendable, even if we are concerned about numerous processes,” he said.

In the meanwhile the DRC government cut internet connections and SMS services across the country for a second straight day yesterday as the country nervously awaited results from the weekend's chaotic presidential election.

Both the opposition and ruling coalition said on Monday they were on track to win after a turbulent election day on Sunday in which many Congolese were unable to vote due to an Ebola outbreak, conflict and logistical problems.

Barnabe Kikaya bin Karubi, a senior adviser to President Joseph Kabila, said internet and SMS services were cut to preserve public order after "fictitious results" began circulating on social media.

"That could lead us straight toward chaos," Kikaya told Reuters, adding the connections would remain cut until the publication of complete results on 6 January.

The signal to Radio France Internationale (RFI), one of the most popular news sources in Congo, was also down, and the government withdrew the accreditation of RFI's main correspondent in the country late on Monday for having aired unofficial results from the opposition.

The various moves reflected high tensions in Congo, where the long-delayed election was meant to choose a successor to Kabila, who is due to step down next month after 18 years in power - and two years after the official end of his mandate.

Congo has never seen a democratic transfer of power, and any disputed outcome could lead to a repeat of the violence that followed the 2006 and 2011 elections and a wider security breakdown in its volatile eastern provinces.

The opposition says the election was marred by fraud and accused Kabila of planning to rule from the sidelines through his preferred candidate, former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

Internal UN reports, seen by Reuters, noted allegations of irregularities across the country. In some parts of eastern Congo's North Kivu province, for example, militia fighters reportedly forced voters to select candidates from the ruling coalition, they said.

In other places, the United Nations received reports that security forces intimidated voters to choose ruling coalition candidates.

The government and national electoral commission (CENI) said the election was fair and that any problems were minor. – Additional reporting by Nampa/Reuters