Congo's top court approves postponement of presidential election

The Constitutional Court in Democratic Republic of Congo has approved a petition by the Electoral Commission to delay a presidential election set for November, allowing President Joseph Kabila to remain in office until April 2018.

Mr. Kabila was due to step down in December when his two-term mandate expires and his opponents say they fear he intends to first prolong his term in office and then change the constitution to enable him to run again.

Most opposition parties have boycotted talks with government and called for a general strike tomorrow to put pressure on Mr. Kabila.

EU foreign ministers are threatening economic sanctions against Congo unless it holds presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

Meanwhile French Foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault says the decision to push back presidential elections in Democratic Republic of Congo to 2018 is not the answer to the crisis there and risks fuelling an escalation in violence.

NEWS24