DRC urged to break crisis 'impasse' by UN, AU, EU

The international community on Thursday urged government and opposition parties in Democratic Republic of Congo to restart deadlocked talks to set up a transition regime ahead of elections due late this year.
The United Nations, African Union, European Union and the International Organisation of the Francophonie “are increasingly concerned by the continuing impasse in the dialogue among the political stakeholders” in DRC, a joint statement said.
The talks aim to implement a power-sharing deal signed on New Year’s Eve by the government and the opposition to end a political crisis over President Joseph Kabila’s fate.
Kabila’s second and final mandate ran out in December but elections did not take place.
Under the terms of the deal, Kabila would remain in office as president until the “end of 2017” but a transition council was to be established under the leadership of veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi.
In addition, a prime minister was to be named from the opposition ranks.