Stakeholders in the discussions on the Special Arrangement held talks until late Sunday evening, 26 March, without agreeing on the points that blocked, for several weeks, the signature of the thread of implementation of the Agreement.
Tension rose more than one yard yesterday at the Interdiocesan Center in Kinshasa. Delegates in talks moderated by the Bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo have not found a general agreement on the issues that have opposed them for weeks.
Set aside during the plenary sessions on Saturday, problems relating to the method of appointing the Prime Minister, the Chairmanship of the Monitoring Council of the Agreement (CNSA), the role that the CENCO must play within the CNSA have resurfaced with their measure of division. No consensus around these points.
On the side of the Presidential Majority, one does not want to hear any mention of the presentation of a single candidate for the Prime Minister. The same component requires a new consensus on the person to be entrusted with the presidency of the CNSA, although it does not claim this position, contrary to the Opposition signatory to the Agreement of 18 October, led by Vital Kamerhe and the Front For the Respect of the Constitution, coordinated by Eve Bazaïba.
The Rassemblement, for its part, also duels on its position: « Proposing three names to the Head of State to appoint the future Prime Minister would violate the New Year’s Eve Agreement. » Same for the CNSA which « must » be headed by Pierre Lumbi, successor of Etienne Tshisekedi to the Council of Elders of the Rally, as inscribed in the Agreement.
« The miracle » will therefore not take place this Monday, March 27, 2017, unless last minute turnaround. A plenary to note the failure of discussions on the Particular Arrangement could take place at the Interdiocesan Center today. Meanwhile, Majority and Rally have scheduled press conferences during the day.