his election as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
28 November 2006
Pretoria: South African President, Thabo Mbeki, today, Tuesday, 28 November,
expressed South Africa's warmest congratulations to President Joseph Kabila, on
his affirmation by the DRC Supreme Court as the democratically elected
President of the DRC.
The government and people of South Africa join the international community
in welcoming the DRC's Supreme Court decision to declare President Joseph
Kabila as a democratically elected leader of the DRC.
It is indeed our conviction, that the results are an expression of the free
will of the people of the DRC. In this regard, we reiterate our congratulations
to the DRC's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for organising both rounds
of Presidential elections, the provincial elections, all political parties for
their participation in this historic process as well as Vice-President Jean
Pierre Bemba, for approaching the Supreme Court to raise his objections.
We are confident that the finalisation of the election process must surely
lay a firm foundation for the mobilisation of all the people of DRC behind the
banner of reconstruction and development of their country in a peaceful, stable
and democratic environment.
South Africa stands ready, within its limited resources, to assist the
people of DRC as they embark upon this difficult path to bring about a
fundamental socio-political transformation of their country.
South Africa looks forward to the strengthening and consolidation of its
bilateral political and economic relations with the DRC and mutual co-operation
at the multilateral level as part of efforts to consolidate the African
agenda.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
28 November 2006
