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Parliamentary question - E-006004/2018Parliamentary question
E-006004/2018

Sanctions against the Democratic Republic of Congo

Question for written answer E-006004-18
to the Council
Rule 130
Jean-Luc Schaffhauser (ENF)

A number of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Government officials are currently subject to EU sanctions. Among them is Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a candidate in the presidential election scheduled to take place on 13 December 2018.

The sanctions were imposed in response to alleged abuses of the democratic process in the DRC by President Joseph Kabila. That process is taking its course, it will culminate in the presidential poll, and Mr Kabila is complying in full with the constitutional provision that bars him from seeking re-election. Mr Shadary, moreover, cannot be held responsible for massacres which took place in Kasaï Province (in connection with the Kamwina Nsapu rebellion) before he was appointed to a ministerial post. Why have the sanctions against Mr Shadary not been lifted?

These measures constitute unacceptable interference in the ongoing inclusive, open and democratic electoral process in the DRC because they divide candidates into those who have the EU’s blessing and those who do not.

The sanctions should therefore be lifted immediately to avoid accusations of neo-colonialism, bias and electoral manipulation. We need to make it clear to Africans and we need, ourselves, to be clear that the days when the West selected heads of state and government in Africa are over.

Taking into account the ongoing democratic process, what is the timetable for lifting the sanctions?

Last updated: 12 December 2018
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