SA backs DRC violence probe

South Africa has chosen to side with the DRC on its investigation into violence in its Kasai province, which has seen hundreds of people killed in the past 10 months and at least 1.3m displaced. No mention was made in any public statements of this violence during President Joseph Kabila’s state visit to South Africa over the weekend, but his delegation was asked to explain it in a closed meeting that was chaired by Kabila and President Jacob Zuma. Kabila’s chief adviser, Barnabe Kikaya-bin-Karubi told News24 the Congolese delegation explained that the DRC Government was already investigating the violence and it was opposed to an independent investigation as was suggested by some countries in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last week. ‘It is international law. The United Nations cannot override the sovereignty of a country, and when the matter broke out we put together our own investigation,’ he said. Zuma congratulated Kabila on what he said was progress made in the DRC. ‘We gather here at a time when your country is going through a political transition following the December 2016 political agreement. This agreement charted a process that should lead to the next elections. We congratulate you‚ Mr President‚ on the progress achieved thus far and the manner with which you have handled the process‚’ Zuma said. This was contradictory to what Jean Bwasa‚ a spokesperson for the Congolese community living in South Africa had earlier told TimesLIVE he was hoping to hear from Zuma. ‘President Zuma should advise Kabila to hand over power‚’ said Bwasa. He added that Kabila was required to organise fresh elections in December last year in preparation for his successor.