DRC Democracy Protests: Joseph Kabila and Hezbollah
A third term for Kabila means continued access to Congo’s mineral wealth for Hezbollah
Today President Joseph Kabila and his People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy suffered a major blow in their efforts to continue Kabila’s place as the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Following four days of violent protests throughout the DRC, the country’s senate approved legislation rescinding a required census before the next presidential election. Both the opposition and various human rights groups declared that the census was a means for Kabila to override his planned departure from office in the coming year.
Due to the country’s large size, lack of infrastructure, and ongoing instability in the East, a proper census could have taken as long as three years, according to critics. Following passage by the lower House, the 2016 elections will take place as planned.
Kabila attained office in 2001 following his father’s assassination. Since then, the leader has struggled to control the mineral-rich country often encompassed by civil war and protracted engagement with neighbors. Following the end of the Second Congo War in 2003, Mr. Kabila was elected president in 2006-the DRC’s first democratic and independent presidential race since breaking free from Belgian colonial rule.
However, his re-election in 2011 brought claims of election fraud from domestic and international parties. Opposition rhetoric stated that the implementation of a census would delay the upcoming 2016 elections and serve as a conduit for Kabila to retain power.
Kabila’s 2011 victory meant continued business and haven for U.S. Treasury sanctioned Hezbollah financiers. Leopold Kalala Ndjibu-Kalema, senior legal advisor to Congo’s environmental ministry, claimed there was “no concrete proof” of collusion between Trans-M and Hezbollah.
However, Ahmed Tajideen, owner of Trans-M and Lebanese businessman was granted continued lucrative forestry contracts in the DRC in 2011. Mr. Tajideen and his three other brothers have large shares in firms sanction by the U.S. as being financially connected to Hezbollah. U.S. treasury officials were skeptical given that Ahmed’s brother Kassim was identified by U.S. Treasury as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (E.O. 13224) in May 2009 and another brother Ali, was a former Hezbollah commander in Tyre, Lebanon. Congo Futur, a food and diamond trade company was also run by the Tajideens and designated as a Hezbollah front. Trans-M is also a subsidiary to Congo Futur.
If Kabila secures a third term, the Tajideen brothers will continue to enjoy protection from U.S. Treasury designations.
