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| My Country Is Sliding Toward Chaos | My Country Is Sliding Toward Chaos |
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| This article has been updated to reflect news developments. | |
| BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo — Congo is sliding toward chaos as outgoing President Joseph Kabila has failed to keep his promise to organize free, transparent and fair elections, which were scheduled to be held on Dec. 23. | BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo — Congo is sliding toward chaos as outgoing President Joseph Kabila has failed to keep his promise to organize free, transparent and fair elections, which were scheduled to be held on Dec. 23. |
| On Thursday the country’s electoral commission postponed the much-delayed vote by a week, claiming it was “technically incapable” of holding the elections. These elections, if held successfully, would have been the first peaceful transfer of power since Congo’s independence in 1960. | On Thursday the country’s electoral commission postponed the much-delayed vote by a week, claiming it was “technically incapable” of holding the elections. These elections, if held successfully, would have been the first peaceful transfer of power since Congo’s independence in 1960. |
| Even though the country’s Constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms, Mr. Kabila has stayed in office since the end of his second term in 2016, lamely citing conflict and unpreparedness for elections as his excuses. With great reluctance and after substantial outside pressure, Mr. Kabila agreed not to run again. | Even though the country’s Constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms, Mr. Kabila has stayed in office since the end of his second term in 2016, lamely citing conflict and unpreparedness for elections as his excuses. With great reluctance and after substantial outside pressure, Mr. Kabila agreed not to run again. |
| His ruling coalition, Common Front for Congo, nominated Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister entirely beholden to Mr. Kabila, as the presidential candidate in the elections. On Dec. 11, the European Union renewed sanctions — travel ban and asset freezes — against Mr. Shadary, who was sanctioned last year for carrying out a crackdown on people protesting the much-delayed elections. | His ruling coalition, Common Front for Congo, nominated Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister entirely beholden to Mr. Kabila, as the presidential candidate in the elections. On Dec. 11, the European Union renewed sanctions — travel ban and asset freezes — against Mr. Shadary, who was sanctioned last year for carrying out a crackdown on people protesting the much-delayed elections. |
| Mr. Shadary is competing, among others, with two leading presidential candidates from opposition parties. One of the front-runners is Martin Fayulu, an oil executive turned politician, who has long been a fiery critic of Mr. Kabila. Mr. Fayulu was nominated as a consensus presidential candidate by several opposition parties in November. | Mr. Shadary is competing, among others, with two leading presidential candidates from opposition parties. One of the front-runners is Martin Fayulu, an oil executive turned politician, who has long been a fiery critic of Mr. Kabila. Mr. Fayulu was nominated as a consensus presidential candidate by several opposition parties in November. |
| The opposition unity frayed when Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, son of the opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who founded the Union for Democracy and Social Progress party in 1982, began his own presidential campaign. | The opposition unity frayed when Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, son of the opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who founded the Union for Democracy and Social Progress party in 1982, began his own presidential campaign. |
| Yet when the government has permitted opposition rallies, the opposition candidates have been greeted by huge, boisterous crowds in cities across Congo, showing the broad and deep dissatisfaction with Mr. Kabila’s rule and the desire for genuine change. | Yet when the government has permitted opposition rallies, the opposition candidates have been greeted by huge, boisterous crowds in cities across Congo, showing the broad and deep dissatisfaction with Mr. Kabila’s rule and the desire for genuine change. |
| But Mr. Kabila is now waging war against his own people, and government forces have brazenly attacked and killed peaceful opposition supporters. On Dec. 11, security forces in Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in Congo, tried to prevent a rally by Mr. Fayulu, the opposition presidential candidate, firing tear gas and live bullets at his supporters, killing five people and injuring many more. | But Mr. Kabila is now waging war against his own people, and government forces have brazenly attacked and killed peaceful opposition supporters. On Dec. 11, security forces in Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in Congo, tried to prevent a rally by Mr. Fayulu, the opposition presidential candidate, firing tear gas and live bullets at his supporters, killing five people and injuring many more. |
| The government has prohibited, hindered or attacked opposition rallies in other cities across Congo, including Boma, Kalemie, Kananga, Kindu and Mbuji-Mayi. This process does not even remotely resemble a fair campaign with a level playing field. | The government has prohibited, hindered or attacked opposition rallies in other cities across Congo, including Boma, Kalemie, Kananga, Kindu and Mbuji-Mayi. This process does not even remotely resemble a fair campaign with a level playing field. |
| Recently, an extremely suspicious fire broke out at a government depot in Kinshasa and destroyed election materials and, reportedly, around 8,000 electronic voting machines. I fear this fire might be used as a pretext for delaying the elections. | Recently, an extremely suspicious fire broke out at a government depot in Kinshasa and destroyed election materials and, reportedly, around 8,000 electronic voting machines. I fear this fire might be used as a pretext for delaying the elections. |
| Violence continues — and is worsening — across Congo because impunity for those in power has led to the destruction of the rule of law. Congo is extremely rich in cobalt, which is essential to the production of highly valued lithium batteries. Cobalt is often mined by young Congolese working in unsafe locations and generally shipped to Asia, where it is used for the production of high-tech products. President Kabila’s family is deeply involved in this pillaging of Congo based on the most extreme exploitation of Congolese labor. | Violence continues — and is worsening — across Congo because impunity for those in power has led to the destruction of the rule of law. Congo is extremely rich in cobalt, which is essential to the production of highly valued lithium batteries. Cobalt is often mined by young Congolese working in unsafe locations and generally shipped to Asia, where it is used for the production of high-tech products. President Kabila’s family is deeply involved in this pillaging of Congo based on the most extreme exploitation of Congolese labor. |
| Congo remains one of the world’s poorest countries: the infant mortality rate in my country is among the worst in the world — almost every tenth child born in the country dies before she is five. Indicators of health, nutrition, and education are equally grim. | Congo remains one of the world’s poorest countries: the infant mortality rate in my country is among the worst in the world — almost every tenth child born in the country dies before she is five. Indicators of health, nutrition, and education are equally grim. |
| My country has already paid an immense human cost since war began in 1996 with over 4 million people displaced within the country and around 6 million dead. Hundreds of thousands of women have suffered almost unimaginable sexual violence. The perpetrators have often been powerful local leaders and their henchmen, whose positions make them immune from prosecution. | My country has already paid an immense human cost since war began in 1996 with over 4 million people displaced within the country and around 6 million dead. Hundreds of thousands of women have suffered almost unimaginable sexual violence. The perpetrators have often been powerful local leaders and their henchmen, whose positions make them immune from prosecution. |
| I fear that we are slowly sliding back into the horror of the late 1990s, with increased militia activity and abuses including sexual violence. Though the war officially ended in 2001, it has never ceased in eastern Congo, where I live and work. Today I see more and more militia groups engaging in increasingly brutal activities in eastern Congo and elsewhere. I am seeing an increasing number of rapes of girls and women in villages in my region. | I fear that we are slowly sliding back into the horror of the late 1990s, with increased militia activity and abuses including sexual violence. Though the war officially ended in 2001, it has never ceased in eastern Congo, where I live and work. Today I see more and more militia groups engaging in increasingly brutal activities in eastern Congo and elsewhere. I am seeing an increasing number of rapes of girls and women in villages in my region. |
| The conflict has contributed to a growing incidence of cholera, which is easily preventable when health services are functional and unhampered by the current crisis. Millions of Congolese are displaced, with little hope. Mr. Kabila’s government has not only ignored these crises but has also too often aided the perpetrators. His government does not bring stability; it foments instability. | The conflict has contributed to a growing incidence of cholera, which is easily preventable when health services are functional and unhampered by the current crisis. Millions of Congolese are displaced, with little hope. Mr. Kabila’s government has not only ignored these crises but has also too often aided the perpetrators. His government does not bring stability; it foments instability. |
| For two decades, I have been working as a doctor with a dedicated team of colleagues to heal victims of this ceaseless violence in my country. I realized years ago that these problems could not be solved in the operating room, but that we had to combat the root causes of these atrocities. The way forward is for the Congolese people to freely elect their leaders at every level, from the local mayor to the president. But Mr. Kabila intends the opposite result. | For two decades, I have been working as a doctor with a dedicated team of colleagues to heal victims of this ceaseless violence in my country. I realized years ago that these problems could not be solved in the operating room, but that we had to combat the root causes of these atrocities. The way forward is for the Congolese people to freely elect their leaders at every level, from the local mayor to the president. But Mr. Kabila intends the opposite result. |
| As I feared, at the very last minute, the electoral commission has delayed the elections yet again. The corruption and the inept preparations of the commission make it certain that any elections it oversees will be much more chaotic than those of 2011, when botched elections led to instability and violence. | As I feared, at the very last minute, the electoral commission has delayed the elections yet again. The corruption and the inept preparations of the commission make it certain that any elections it oversees will be much more chaotic than those of 2011, when botched elections led to instability and violence. |
| Election materials have yet to be distributed in many places, particularly in the rural areas. We fear that no credible voting will occur in much of Congo. As long as the current leadership remains in place, any electoral scenario will only lead to more violence, more instability and a greater risk of a collapse into dictatorship. | Election materials have yet to be distributed in many places, particularly in the rural areas. We fear that no credible voting will occur in much of Congo. As long as the current leadership remains in place, any electoral scenario will only lead to more violence, more instability and a greater risk of a collapse into dictatorship. |
| The United States and other world powers must apply pressure against President Kabila now, to make clear that violent attacks by government forces against innocent civilians is unacceptable. | The United States and other world powers must apply pressure against President Kabila now, to make clear that violent attacks by government forces against innocent civilians is unacceptable. |
| If Mr. Kabila and his corrupt generals ignore this, the United States and other countries should make it clear that swift, international action, including the broadening and deepening of existing sanctions, will be the initial response by the international community. | If Mr. Kabila and his corrupt generals ignore this, the United States and other countries should make it clear that swift, international action, including the broadening and deepening of existing sanctions, will be the initial response by the international community. |
| Congo needs another path, one that leads to genuinely free and fair elections and ends the pattern of government violence against citizens. | |
| President Kabila now must resign, and his corrupt group of cronies must be replaced. Congo desperately needs a technocratic caretaker government to reorient the government while overseeing the holding of free and fair elections. | |
| The Congolese people are ready to build a state in the heart of Africa where the government serves its people, not its rulers. A state that is based on the rule of law, capable of bringing lasting and harmonious development not only for Congo but also for all of Africa. A state where political, economic and social actions are based on a people-centered approach to restore human dignity to all citizens. | |
| Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist and human rights activist from Congo, received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. | Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist and human rights activist from Congo, received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. |
| Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. | Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. |