Congo opposition protests joint presidential candidate

13/11/2018 2:29

        Members of two of Congo's leading opposition parties say they do not back a presidential candidate who was chosen by a coalition. Opposition leaders gathering in Geneva had chosen Martin Fayulu Madidi to face off against the candidate chosen by longtime President Joseph Kabila's party. However, the UDPS and UNC parties said Monday they rejected Fayulu as their standard bearer. The statement called the Geneva talks "a joke" and the UDPS called on their president Felix Tshisekedi to withdraw his signature. Tshisekedi, who was among the four candidates considered, is the son of Congo's late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi. The opposition parties have said they would back a single candidate to try to defeat ruling party presidential candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. Kabila, in power since 2001, is not running.