KINSHASA: The election commission of Democratic Republic of Congo has excluded opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba and two former prime ministers from the list of approved candidates for December's presidential election, which was published on Friday.

Bemba, a former warlord who earlier in August returned to the Congolese capital Kinshasa to submit his candidacy for president after a decade in prison in The Hague for war crimes, had been seen as one of the frontrunners in the race to succeed incumbent Joseph Kabila.

The commission's decision can be appealed before the final list of candidates is published in September. </s> Congolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo addresses a news conference in Kinshasa Thomson Reuters KINSHASA (Reuters) - The election commission of Democratic Republic of Congo has excluded opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba and two former prime ministers from the list of approved candidates for December's presidential election, which was published on Friday.

Bemba, a former warlord who earlier in August returned to the Congolese capital Kinshasa to submit his candidacy for president after a decade in prison in The Hague for war crimes, had been seen as one of the frontrunners in the race to succeed incumbent Joseph Kabila.

The commission's decision can be appealed before the final list of candidates is published in September.

(Reporting by Amedee Mwarabu; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Sandra Maler) </s> Congo's election commission has excluded opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba and three former prime ministers from the list of approved candidates for December's presidential election.

Bemba, a former warlord, returned to the capital, Kinshasa, earlier this month to submit his candidacy for president after a decade in prison in The Hague for war crimes. He had been seen as one of the front-runners in the race to succeed incumbent Joseph Kabila.

The commission said that a separate International Criminal Court conviction for witness tampering was the reason Bemba was left off the list.

Bemba was acquitted earlier this year on appeal at the International Criminal Court of war crimes and crimes against humanity for murder, rape and pillage committed by fighters he sent to Central African Republic in 2002.

His witness tampering conviction however, still stands.

The election commission's decision was condemned by opposition parties and can be appealed before the final list is published in September.

"Once again the current regime is showing its determination to suppress the electoral process," they said in a joint statement before the commission published the list on Friday.

Kabila likely to stay involved in politics

Last month, in a rare public opinion poll on the likely outcome of the election, Bemba placed third with 17 percent support.

He is popular in western Congoand in Kinshasa, and being left off the ballot could trigger a violent reaction by his supporters. Street battles between militiamen loyal to Bemba and state forces broke out in Kinshasa after he lost the 2006 election to Kabila.

After years of speculation, Kabila agreed earlier this month to obey the two-term limit imposed by the constitution and not put his name in the poll set for December 23. He has chosen former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who has been placed under EU sanctions, to stand instead.

The choice of Shadary, a die-hard loyalist, suggests Kabila — who came to power after his father's assassination in 2001 — intends to remain closely involved in national politics. He will be eligible to run again in 2023.

Among the six candidates also excluded from the commission's list are former prime ministers Adolphe Muzito, Antoine Gizenga and Samy Badibanga.

Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here. </s> Former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba’s candidacy in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s upcoming presidential elections was deemed “inadmissible” by the country’s election commission on Friday, as opposition groups cried foul.

The commission rejected the candidacy of Bemba, a rival to DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, on the basis that he had been “convicted by the International Criminal Court” in March 2018 and handed a year in prison and a 300,000 euro fine for bribing witnesses.

Bemba’s war crimes convictions were overturned by the court in The Hague and he returned to Kinshasa in August after being acquitted.

Just ahead of the election commission’s announcement, the political opposition to president Kabila issued a fresh rallying cry, accusing the “powers that be” of seeking to “exclude” multiple opposition candidates.

Opposition groups called on Kabila to free up the electoral process and “stop giving injunctions to the election commission,” according to a statement signed by Bemba, and exiled opposition politicians Moise Katumbi and Felix Tshisekedi.

Overall, the election commission has excluded six out of the 25 candidates who had registered to run in the presidential elections, set for December 23.

In addition to Bemba, the commission has barred three of Kabila’s former prime ministers — Samy Badibanga, Adolphe Muzito, and Antoine Gizenga.

“These exclusions are unacceptable and show once again that the electoral commission is totally dominated by Kabila,” Moise Katumbi wrote on Twitter.

A former governor of Katanga who joined the opposition in 2015, Katumbi said that he had been blocked from returning to the DRC to register his candidacy.

He has been living in Belgium since 2016 and has been sentenced absentia to three years in prison. Considered a fugitive by the Ministry of Justice, he is the subject of an international arrest warrant.

“With the population, the opposition, civil society, our partners, let’s keep up the pressure, refuse to accept these sham elections,” Katumbi added.

The six excluded candidates have 48 hours to appeal to the Constitutional Court. The election commission must publish a final list of candidates by September 19. </s> The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Independent National Electoral Commission, CENI, has excluded opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba from a preliminary list of candidates ahead of long delayed elections.

Aside the former vice-president, CENI also rejected applications of five others including three former prime ministers. They cited reasons such as: “lack of nationality, no proof of payment, candidates conflict with their own party, failure of the cards, conviction by a court.”

The inadmissible list included: Ifoku, Sami Badibanga, Moka Ngolo, Muzito Adolphe, Gizenga Antoine, Bemba Ngombo. With the current exclusion, there are 19 candidates running to succeed Kabila including ruling party’s Emmanuel Ramazany Shadary.

Bemba, a former warlord who earlier in August returned to Kinshasa to submit his candidacy for president after a decade in prison in The Hague for war crimes, had been seen as one of the frontrunners in the race to succeed incumbent Joseph Kabila.

The commission said a separate International Criminal Court (ICC) conviction for witness tampering was the reason for Bemba’s exclusion from the list.

Bemba was acquitted on appeal at the ICC of war crimes and crimes against humanity for murder, rape and pillage committed by fighters he sent to Central African Republic in 2002 but his witness tampering conviction stands.

Opposition parties condemned the election commission’s decision, which can be appealed before the final list is published in September.

CENI also said over 15,500 candidates had been passed to contest for seats in the national assembly. The elections due to have been held in December 2016 will finally be held in December 23, 2018. </s> Former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba cannot run to be the next president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's electoral commission said.

Mr Bemba was one of six would-be candidates deemed ineligible following hours of deliberation.

The ex-rebel leader had a war crimes conviction overturned in June.

However, the commission said Mr Bemba was excluded because of his conviction by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for bribing witnesses.

Mr Bemba, who returned to the DR Congo at the start of August after 11 years spent in exile or prison, is currently appealing against the ICC conviction.

This year's election is meant to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, whose second and final term in office ended two years ago.

The governing coalition has nominated former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary to be its candidate.

A total of 25 people put their names forward, including former prime ministers Antoine Gizenga and Adolphe Muzito - both of whom were deemed ineligible to run.

Opposition parties condemned the electoral commission's decision before it was even announced, accusing "the current regime" of trying "to suppress the electoral process".

Those excluded, including Mr Bemba, who is one of President Kabila's most feared rivals, can appeal against the decision.

The final list of candidates is scheduled to be published in September.

§ A well-connected businessman and the son of prominent Congolese businessman Bemba Saolona

§ 1998: Helped by Uganda to form MLC rebel group in Democratic Republic of Congo

§ 2006: Loses run-off election to President Joseph Kabila but gets most votes in western DR Congo, including Kinshasa

§ 2007: Flees to Belgium after clashes in Kinshasa

§ 2008: Arrested in Brussels and handed over to ICC

§ 2016: Found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity </s> Three opposition heavyweights, a 92-year-old ally of an independence hero and the president's chosen successor are among 25 candidates who have registered to run in the Democratic Republic of Congo's long-awaited elections.

Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister named by the government on Wednesday as the ruling coalition candidate, was listed as an independent, according to a preliminary electoral commission list issued Friday.

Shadary, who is on an EU sanctions blacklist, was anointed after President Joseph Kabila bowed to intense international and domestic pressure and decided not to run again in the elections scheduled for December 23.

The three main opposition politicians to throw their hats in the ring are Felix Tshisekedi, Jean-Pierre Bemba and Vital Kamerhe, who could eventually decide to line up behind a single candidate.

Tshisekedi, 55, is leader of Congo's oldest opposition party UDPS and the son of longstanding opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi who died last year.

Bemba, also 55, is a former warlord and Kabila rival, who returned to Kinshasa this month after being acquitted of war crimes convictions by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Kamerhe, 59, is the leader of the opposition Union for the Congolese Nation, although he has previously served as parliamentary speaker and information minister.

The oldest candidate is Antoine Gizenga, 92, a former prime minister who was a brother-in-arms to national independence hero Patrice Lumumba and more recently a prime minister under Kabila after he first came to power in 2006.

The electoral body is expected to publish another provisional list of candidates on August 24 and a final list on September 19, just three months ahead of the vote. </s> The Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission rejects Jean-Pierre Bemba's candidacy on the basis of his previous war crime convictions by the International Criminal Court

KINSHASA, DR Congo – Former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba's candidacy in the Democratic Republic of Congo's upcoming presidential elections was deemed "inadmissible" by the country's election commission on Friday, August 24, as opposition groups cried foul.

The commission rejected the candidacy of Bemba, a rival to DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, on the basis that he had been "convicted by the International Criminal Court" in March 2018 and handed a year in prison and a 300,000 euro fine for bribing witnesses.

Bemba's war crimes convictions were overturned by the court in The Hague and he returned to Kinshasa in August after being acquitted.

Just ahead of the election commission's announcement, the political opposition to president Kabila issued a fresh rallying cry, accusing the "powers that be" of seeking to "exclude" multiple opposition candidates.

Opposition groups called on Kabila to free up the electoral process and "stop giving injunctions to the election commission," according to a statement signed by Bemba, and exiled opposition politicians Moise Katumbi and Felix Tshisekedi. (READ: Deal reached to end DRCongo political crisis)

Overall, the election commission has excluded 6 out of the 25 candidates who had registered to run in the presidential elections, set for December 23.

A country of some 80 million people, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has never known a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence in 1960.

Kabila – in power since 2001 – took over from his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, who was assassinated by a bodyguard.

His tenure over the vast mineral-rich country has been marked by a reputation for corruption, inequality and unrest. The watchdog Transparency International ranked it 156 out of 176 countries in its 2016 corruption index.

Bemba lost presidential elections to Kabila in 2006 and was later accused of treason when his bodyguards clashed with the army in Kinshasa.

In 2007, he fled to Belgium, where he had spent part of his youth.

He was then arrested in Europe on a warrant by the ICC for war crimes committed by his private army in the neighbouring Central African Republic from 2002-3, when its then-president Ange-Felix Patasse sought his help to repel a coup attempt.

He was sentenced in The Hague in 2016 to 18 years before the conviction was overturned in June on appeal.

The ICC declared Bemba could not be held responsible for crimes committed by his troops. –Rappler.com </s> There will be 25 candidates in December's presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister named by the government last Wednesday as the ruling coalition candidate, is described as an independent, according to a preliminary list issued by the electoral commission.

Shadary, who is on an EU sanctions blacklist, was anointed after President Joseph Kabila bowed to international and domestic pressure and decided not to run again in the election scheduled for 23 December.

The three main opposition contenders are Félix Tshisekedi, Jean-Pierre Bemba and Vital Kamerhe, who could eventually decide to line up behind a single candidate.

Tshisekedi is leader of Congo's oldest opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, and the son of Etienne Tshisekedi who died last year.

Bemba is a former warlord and Kabila rival, who returned to Kinshasa this month after being acquitted of war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Kamerhe is the leader of the opposition Union for the Congolese Nation and has previously served as parliamentary speaker and information minister.

The oldest candidate is 92-year-old Antoine Gizenga, a former prime minister who was a brother-in-arms to national independence hero Patrice Lumumba and more recently a prime minister under Joseph Kabila after he first came to power in 2006.

The electoral body is expected to publish another provisional list of candidates at the end of August and a final list on 19 September, three months ahead of polling.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has sacked the entire staff of a Ministry of Health unit accused of gross mismanagement of public resources.

Regional paper the East African says more ministry officials are likely to be prosecuted following the sacking of the human resources director and 23 employees of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, supposed to oversee medical and healthcare services.

The cabinet, chaired by the president, last week sacked the director of human resources and administration at the ministry and the director of the Health Technology and Infrastructure Planning Unit, along with 22 staff members.

The sackings were related to inefficiencies affecting the performance of the health sector.

The unprecedented move comes after persistent adverse reports by the auditor-general showing serious financial flaws at some public institutions.

The sacked officials are likely to face prosecution for the mismanagement of public resources.

The South African government needs the rand equivalent of two-and-a-half billion euros to boost an economy teetering on the brink of recession, the top story in this morning's Johannesburg-based financial paper BusinessDay tells us.

The money will be required to fund, among other things, the stimulus package announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa two weeks ago. The figures discussed by cabinet last week were not limited to the stimulus package but also included funds needed to assist ailing state-owned entities, according to a government statement issued yesterday.

The president has promised that the economic stimulus package will be based on existing budgetary resources and the pursuit of new investments.

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene is due to make his medium-term budget policy statement in October.

The South Sudanese army and allied militia have been accused by the United Nations of killing over 200 civilians, committing rape and burning villages in a series of attacks carried out in the southern Unity state between 16 April and 24 May this year, according to this morning's Sudan Tribune.

The report by the UN's Human Rights Commission, based on investigations carried out by the organisation's peacekeepers, says the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army and allied forces attacked at least 40 villages or settlements in the reporting period, killing 232 civilians.

According to the report, the reason for these attacks, which took place after the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement in December 2017, was to increase territories under government control by retaking areas in the hands of rebel forces loyal to Riek Machar. </s> Image copyright AFP Image caption Election officials say not all of the votes have yet been counted

The results of last week's presidential vote in the Democratic Republic of Congo will not be published on Sunday, officials say, despite growing calls for the outcome to be announced.

The head of the electoral commission said this was because less than half the ballots had arrived.

His spokesman told the BBC a meeting would be held on Sunday over the delay.

The Catholic Church, which fielded thousands of observers, said on Thursday there was a clear winner.

It called for the result to be made public to avoid political unrest.

This drew an angry response from the coalition in power which said the church was "doing something illegal" and accused it of "preparing the population for insurrection".

The Church had been vocal in its opposition to the extension of President Joseph Kabila's rule.

He is stepping down after 17 years in office and has promised DR Congo's first orderly transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

The official result was due to be announced on Sunday, although the electoral commission had warned a few days ago this could be delayed.

The head of the commission, Corneille Nangaa, said on Saturday that less than half of all the votes had been counted.

"It is not possible to publish the results on Sunday. We are making progress, but we do not have everything yet." No date for the announcement was given.

Image caption The Catholic Church says it knows who won the election but declined to name the winner

On Thursday, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco) - which deployed some 40,000 election observers on voting day - said there was a clear winner based on its tally of the votes.

They did not name anyone but urged election officials "to publish the election results in keeping with truth and justice".

The ruling FCC (Common Front for the Congo) told the BBC only the electoral commission is officially allowed to announce results.

Who's running for president?

Image copyright AFP/Reuters Image caption Opposition candidates Martin Fayulu (L) and Felix Tshisekedi (R) face Emmanuel Shadary (C), the former interior minister

There are 21 candidates, but three frontrunners:

Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary , a former interior minister and Kabila loyalist, who was hit by European Union sanctions for his role in the violent suppression of opposition protests in 2017

, a former interior minister and Kabila loyalist, who was hit by European Union sanctions for his role in the violent suppression of opposition protests in 2017 Martin Fayulu , a former oil executive who has promised "a dignified and prosperous Congo", but who poor Congolese feel may not advance their cause

, a former oil executive who has promised "a dignified and prosperous Congo", but who poor Congolese feel may not advance their cause Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the son of a late veteran opposition leader who has promised to make the fight against poverty his priority

What's the background?

Mr Kabila took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001. He was elected in 2006, and secured another term in controversial elections in 2011.

He was barred from running for another term under the constitution, and was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters.

Image copyright AFP Image caption President Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 17 years in power

The decision triggered violent clashes, as the opposition accused Mr Kabila of trying to cling on to power.

The run-up to this poll was also hit by controversy over the exclusion of some 1.26 million voters, out of an electorate of nearly 40 million.

The electoral commission said voting could not take place in the eastern cities of Beni and Butembo because of a deadly Ebola outbreak in the region. Voting was also called off in the western city of Yumbi because of insecurity there.
The electoral commission publishes the list of approved candidates. Jean-Pierre Bemba and two former prime ministers are excluded.