Pohamba in DRC litmus test

Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, in his most challenging diplomatic appointment to date, has been given the nod as the SADC special envoy to the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This follows the Double Troika Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SADC, held in Luanda, Angola on Tuesday, which cemented an August 2017 undertaking to appoint a former head of state to the DRC.

This was in a bid to ensure “continued support to the electoral process and to the enhancement of political stability, peace and security” in that country. Former South African president Jacob Zuma, who had assumed the SADC chairpersonship in August last year, said the then summit had also urged the DRC's Independent National Electoral Commission to publicise the revised electoral calendar.

SADC was coming under increasing pressure following protests by DRC citizens living in South Africa demanding that the DRC withdraw from the regional bloc because it was not doing anything to help the situation in the country.

The DRC assignment is by far the most challenging appointment for Pohamba, who was also appointed to the African Union's Panel of the Wise in August last year. However, he is experienced in mediating insecurity in Africa and has been involved in diplomatic efforts on the continent to mediate conflict. He has also led missions to ensure free and fair elections in Ghana and Ethiopia.

The DRC was plunged into turmoil following the refusal of President Joseph Kabila to step down at the end of his term in December 2016.

Elections have been promised but, repeatedly postponed, and this has led to protest action and government security forces clampdowns, which, according to reports, include massive human rights violations including arbitrary arrests.

Rape is reportedly a common form of torture in prisons in that country and rights organisations have repeatedly requested international assistance in combating human rights abuses. During November last year, elections were finally set for 23 December this year. Opposition parties did not welcome the announcement, saying Kabila should have left office last year already.

Kabila has in the meantime remained silent until, in his first speech in six years, in which he said on 27 January this year that polling would go ahead.

Then, in February, news broke that Kabila would not stand in the December polls. Lambert Mende, the DRC minister of communications, said Kabila, who has been in office since 2001, had never intended to seek a third term and would not seek to appoint a candidate to represent his interests in the polls.

“This is not a kingdom, where the king appoints an heir. It is a democratic republic,” Mende told The Guardian. “Direct voting” will take place on 23 December this year covering presidential, legislative, regional and local elections, said Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) official Jean-Pierre Kalamba.

At the Panel of the Wise meeting held in Windhoek in March this year, Pohamba spoke at length on matters of peace and security in Africa.

The meeting focused on election observation complementing electoral disputes and as such, either preventing or resolving these over the course of this year.

Pohamba was quoted as saying that an increase in the youth population in Africa, combined with shrinking economies, has resulted in high levels of unemployment and rapid, uncontrolled urbanisation, which can be linked to violence. He also urged the panel to continue to work hard at preventive diplomacy and mediation to strengthen peace and security on the continent.

“We also need to set our agenda, and raise critical peace and security issues affecting the African continent, alongside and in support of the AU Peace and Security Council, as well as the chairperson of the commission,” Pohamba said.



STAFF REPORTER