Barred DRC Opposition Leader To Try Entry Via Zambia
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published August 03, 2018 | 04:02 PM
Exiled opposition leader Moise Katumbi will not attempt to land in DR Congo after being barred from entering the country, but will instead try to enter via Zambia, his party said Friday.
Lubumbashi, DR Congo, APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Aug, 2018 ) :Exiled opposition leader Moise Katumbi will not attempt to land in DR Congo after being barred from entering the country, but will instead try to enter via Zambia, his party said Friday.
Katumbi, 53, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium since May 2016, had planned to fly from Johannesburg to his former stronghold of Lubumbashi in a bid to stand in long-delayed December elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But the city's mayor said Thursday that he would be refused entry.
Katumbi's spokesman Olivier Kamitatu said "authorisation to fly over and land had been refused by Kinshasa".
"We will take off in the direction of (Zambian city) Ndola to take the road to Lubumbashi," Kamitatu tweeted.
At least two police checkpoints were set up to screen access to Lubumbashi's airport on Friday morning and the main road to Zambia had been blocked by a truck, an AFP journalist said.
"As you can see, we are waiting for the president (Katumbi), but those in power do not want him to be there," said Katumbi's brother Abraham Soriano.
Katumbi's entourage could not confirm on Friday that he had left Johannesburg for Zambia.
The former governor of the mineral-rich southern province of Katanga had once been close to long-serving President Joseph Kabila before the two had a falling out.
If Katumbi does return he faces possible arrest after being handed a three-year jail term in absentia in June 2016 in a case of alleged property fraud, charges he denies.
Another rival of Kabila, former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, returned to the country and officially launched his bid for the presidency this week.
The DRC has never known a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence in 1960 -- and some experts fear that the December 23 elections may trigger a bloody conflict.
Kabila, 47, has been at the helm since 2001, presiding over a vast mineral-rich country with a reputation for corruption, inequality and unrest.
He was scheduled to stand down at the end of 2016 after his second elected term, technically the last permitted under the constitution.
Kabila has refused to spell out whether he will seek a new term in the vote. Candidates must submit their applications by August 8 and physically be in the country to do so.
st/bmb/jlb/dl/wdb
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Serial winner Kroos eyes two-trophy finish to career
10 bodies found in Mexico's Acapulco, some in street
Djokovic backs Nadal for French Open title
BUITEMS VC calls for funds allocation for varsities
Nine child workers die in Egypt as bus plunges into the Nile
Govt taking various measures to promote sports: Senator
China warns Taiwan of reprisals over Lai inauguration speech
DPM Dar, Kyrgyz FM discuss recent incidents of violence against Pakistanis
UN health agency chief calls for end to recent Israeli siege of Gaza Hospital
BISE Hyderabad announces results of oriental languages examination
Starc helps Kolkata thrash Hyderabad to reach IPL final
Sindh edu dept launches school enrollment campaign
More Stories From World
-
Half of mangrove ecosystems at risk: conservationists
6 minutes ago -
US returns 133 stolen artifacts to Pakistan; Consul General Aamer Atozai expresses 'gratitude'
6 hours ago -
Gunmen kill villagers in raid on Nigerian mining site
6 hours ago -
One dead, dozens injured as Singapore-bound flight hits turbulence
6 hours ago -
Austria captain Alaba misses out on Euro 2024
7 hours ago -
Children are stars of London's Chelsea Flower Show
8 hours ago
-
10 bodies found in Mexico's Acapulco, some in street
8 hours ago -
Nine child workers die in Egypt as bus plunges into the Nile
8 hours ago -
China warns Taiwan of reprisals over Lai inauguration speech
9 hours ago -
UN health agency chief calls for end to recent Israeli siege of Gaza Hospital
9 hours ago -
One dead, 71 injured as London-Singapore flight hits severe turbulence
10 hours ago -
DPM Dar visits Bishkek National Hospital; meets Kyrgyz authorities
10 hours ago