Election: ‘We cannot afford $1.8bn cost’ – Minister

The Democratic Republic of Congo will not be able to afford an agreed presidential election this year, the government says. Budget Minister Pierre Kangudia said the cost of organising the poll, which was said to be $1.8bn (£1.5bn), was too expensive. Last year the government and the opposition agreed that new elections would be held […]

The Democratic Republic of Congo will not be able to afford an agreed presidential election this year, the government says.
Budget Minister Pierre Kangudia said the cost of organising the poll, which was said to be $1.8bn (£1.5bn), was too expensive.
Last year the government and the opposition agreed that new elections would be held by the end of 2017.
President Joseph Kabila’s final mandate ran out in November 2016.
Mr Kabila’s opponents have accused him of repeatedly delaying the poll in order to remain in power.
The plan to hold an election before the end of 2017 initially reduced tension between the government and the opposition.
The electoral commission said last November that it needed at least until July 2017 to register more than 30 million voters in a country similar in size to Western Europe, but with one of the worst transport and communication networks in the world.