Senator Salomon Kalonda challenges Africa over constitutional coups from Addis Ababa
- Politics
The Congolese senator Salomon Kalonda Idi Della delivered a fiery speech on Friday at the Ethiopian Parliament during the Intelligence and Security Parliamentary Forum. His remarks centered on electoral integrity and democracy in Africa, using the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a case study. Kalonda warned that a constitutional amendment process underway in the DRC could enable the current president to seek a third term, which he argued violates the country’s constitution.
The senator condemned the violent repression of peaceful protests against the reform, stating, « The opposition and civil society have risen. Citizens took to the streets… Protesters were killed. Blood continues to flow on Congolese soil. » He criticized international partners for their silence, calling it « complicity » rather than neutrality.
Distinguishing between two forms of illegitimate power grabs, Kalonda contrasted « military coups »—which are widely condemned and sanctioned—with « constitutional coups », which he described as more insidious. These, he argued, are cloaked in legal legitimacy through rigged referendums and captured judiciaries. « There are no good coups and bad coups, » he declared, urging an end to the international community’s inconsistent stance.
He also highlighted structural flaws undermining African elections, including the lack of independence in electoral commissions, politically motivated disqualifications of popular candidates, and internet shutdowns during vote tallies, which he called an « admission » of distrust in the results.
To strengthen electoral integrity, Kalonda proposed four measures: establishing a permanent African electoral monitoring unit, investing in African digital sovereignty for elections, conducting transparent and inclusive audits, and implementing a parliamentary pre-election observation protocol covering the entire process, from voter registration to result proclamation. He concluded by addressing the DRC’s mining sector, asserting that the absence of true democracy disadvantages Western economic partners against competitors who, he claimed, do not play by the same rules.
- Politics
The Congolese senator Salomon Kalonda Idi Della delivered a fiery speech on Friday at the Ethiopian Parliament during the Intelligence and Security Parliamentary Forum. His remarks centered on electoral integrity and democracy in Africa, using the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a case study. Kalonda warned that a constitutional amendment process underway in the DRC could enable the current president to seek a third term, which he argued violates the country’s constitution.
The senator condemned the violent repression of peaceful protests against the reform, stating, « The opposition and civil society have risen. Citizens took to the streets… Protesters were killed. Blood continues to flow on Congolese soil. » He criticized international partners for their silence, calling it « complicity » rather than neutrality.
Distinguishing between two forms of illegitimate power grabs, Kalonda contrasted « military coups »—which are widely condemned and sanctioned—with « constitutional coups », which he described as more insidious. These, he argued, are cloaked in legal legitimacy through rigged referendums and captured judiciaries. « There are no good coups and bad coups, » he declared, urging an end to the international community’s inconsistent stance.
He also highlighted structural flaws undermining African elections, including the lack of independence in electoral commissions, politically motivated disqualifications of popular candidates, and internet shutdowns during vote tallies, which he called an « admission » of distrust in the results.
To strengthen electoral integrity, Kalonda proposed four measures: establishing a permanent African electoral monitoring unit, investing in African digital sovereignty for elections, conducting transparent and inclusive audits, and implementing a parliamentary pre-election observation protocol covering the entire process, from voter registration to result proclamation. He concluded by addressing the DRC’s mining sector, asserting that the absence of true democracy disadvantages Western economic partners against competitors who, he claimed, do not play by the same rules.
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