Congo cabinet resigns as part of deal for Kabila to stay

By Kenny Katombe

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congo's prime minister and cabinet resigned on Monday as part of a deal that extends the tenure of President Joseph Kabila, who also defended the right of the Congolese people to change the constitution currently barring him from running again.

Kabila is supposed to step down when his mandate runs out on Dec. 19, but his ruling coalition and part of the opposition agreed last month to delay a presidential vote until April 2018, citing logistical problems in registering millions of voters.

"I have just handed in my resignation and that of my government to the president of the republic in line with the spirit of the political accord signed on Oct. 18," Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo said in a statement.

The government's departure should pave the way for a new cabinet with posts for some of those opposition figures who agreed to the election delay and to Kabila staying on as leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, the main opposition bloc has rejected the accord and more than 50 people died in street protests in September aimed at increasing pressure on Kabila to step down himself.

Kabila's critics say his aim is to change the constitution, which limits him to two terms in office, in order to secure a third. The country's constitutional court has given the go-ahead for the rescheduling of the election.

"SOVEREIGN PEOPLE"   Continued...