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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Budget Minister, Pierre Kangudia, says the country lacks sufficient funds to hold elections slated for the end of 2017, a report said on Wednesday in Congo.
Kangudia said it was difficult for the government to mobilise the 1.8 billion dollars needed to organise the elections, partly due to a fall in the prices of raw materials exported by the central African country.
He also said the elections due in November were initially postponed to April due to logistical problems.
The report said that the move allowed Kabila to stay in power beyond the two-term limit set by the constitution, a development that sparked protests leading to the killing of dozens of people.
The government and opposition leaders then agreed that the elections would be held this year. Kiro Tsongo Gregoire from the opposition party Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie said the lack of money by the government was a false problem.
“The lack of money is a false problem, because there is no lack of options, including deviating funds from other sectors or asking the international community to mobilise funds,’’ Gregoire said.
The opposition has warned that it would not accept any reason for not honouring the Dec. 31 agreement.
“This current situation risks again, making the Democratic Republic of Congo to sink into chaos,’’ Gregoire said.