This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-16261907

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila sworn in DR Congo President Joseph Kabila begins second term
(about 1 hour later)
Tanks have been deployed in Kinshasa in case of opposition protests as Joseph Kabila was sworn in for a second term as Democratic Republic of Congo's president. The Democratic Republic of Congo's President, Joseph Kabila, has been sworn in for a second term in Kinshasa.
The Supreme Court has confirmed that Mr Kabila, 40, gained the most votes in the November election. He reportedly promised to safeguard national unity, as tanks were deployed in the capital to prevent protests.
But observers have criticised the poll and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, 79, has declared himself president. Mr Kabila's inauguration went ahead after the country's Supreme Court upheld his victory in November's disputed presidential election.
He says he will be sworn in on Friday. Opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi maintains he won the poll and says he will swear himself in later this week.
The elections were the first Congolese-organised polls since the end of a devastating war in 2003 which left some four million people dead. The elections were the first to be organised locally since the end of a devastating civil war in 2003, which left some four million people dead.
The BBC's Thomas Hubert in Kinshasa says Mr Kabila has taken the oath for a second term in a presidential compound in the presence of a few thousand supporters. The BBC's Thomas Hubert in Kinshasa says Mr Kabila, 40, took the oath of office in the presidential compound, in the presence of a few thousand supporters.
He says Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe is the only foreign head of state present. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe was the only foreign head of state present, our correspondent says. Mr Mugabe sent troops to back Mr Kabila's father, Laurent, during the conflict in DR Congo.
Our reporter says Mr Kabila's Republican Guard has deployed tanks across the city ahead of the ceremony. All ambassadors in the country were summoned to attend the inauguration or risk being made persona non grata.
Tanks are also positioned at Martyrs Stadium, where Mr Tshisekedi's supporters plan to inaugurate him as president on Friday, our reporter says. Mr Kabila said he would allow himself to be guided only by the general interest, "the respect of human rights to concentrate all my efforts to promote our common well-being and peace".
Mr Tshisekedi, who enjoys strong support in the capital, Kinshasa, has called on civil servants and the security forces to take orders from him, rather than Mr Kabila. Our correspondent says Mr Kabila's Republican Guard deployed tanks across Kinshasa ahead of the ceremony.
He said he was offering a reward for the capture of Mr Kabila. Tanks are also positioned at Martyrs' Stadium, where Mr Tshisekedi's supporters plan to inaugurate him as president on Friday, he adds.
An aide of Mr Kabila said the call was "criminal". Mr Tshisekedi, 79, who enjoys strong support in Kinshasa, has called on civil servants and the security forces to take orders from him, rather than Mr Kabila.
He has also said he is offering a reward for the capture of Mr Kabila. An aide of Mr Kabila said the move was "criminal".
Along with the opposition, local and international electoral observers denounced widespread irregularities in November's presidential poll.
Belgian boycottBelgian boycott
Following the criticism of the election, Mr Kabila's aides had said that Gabon's Ali Bongo, Togo's Faure Gnassingbe and Congo-Brazzaville's Denis Sassou Nguesso would attend, along with Mr Mugabe, who sent troops to back Mr Kabila's father, Laurent, during the Congolese conflict. Mr Kabila's aides had said that Gabonese President Ali Bongo, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and Congo-Brazzaville's President Denis Sassou Nguesso would attend the inauguration, along with Mr Mugabe.
Regional powerhouse South Africa is sending its foreign minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, after describing the elections as "generally OK". Regional powerhouse South Africa said it would send its Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, after describing the elections as "generally OK".
The foreign minister of former colonial power Belgium has cancelled plans to attend the ceremony. Congolese affairs analyst Theodore Trefon says that Western nations often follow Belgium's diplomatic lead over DR Congo. The foreign minister of former colonial power Belgium cancelled plans to attend the ceremony. Congolese affairs analyst Theodore Trefon says that Western nations often follow Belgium's diplomatic lead over DR Congo.
Mr Tshisekedi led the campaign for democracy under former leader Mobutu Sese Seko but these were the first elections he has contested. Mr Tshisekedi led the campaign for democracy under former leader Mobutu Sese Seko, but these were the first elections he has contested.
He boycotted the last poll in 2006, organised under the auspices of the United Nations, after claiming they had been rigged in advance.He boycotted the last poll in 2006, organised under the auspices of the United Nations, after claiming they had been rigged in advance.
As well as Kinshasa, he also enjoys a lot of support in the diamond-rich, central area of Kasai. As well as Kinshasa, Mr Tshisekedi enjoys a lot of support in the diamond-rich, central area of Kasai.
Mr Kabila has promised to use his second term to focus on "five building sites of the republic": Infrastructure; health and education; water and electricity; housing and employment. Mr Kabila has promised to use his second term to focus on "five building sites of the republic" - infrastructure; health and education; water and electricity; housing and employment.
DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe and is rich in minerals, such as gold and coltan used in mobile phones but it has hardly any roads or railways. After years of mismanagement and conflict, living standards in the country were recently found to be the lowest of 187 countries surveyed by the UN. DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe and is rich in minerals, such as gold and coltan, but it has hardly any roads or railways. After years of mismanagement and conflict, living standards in the country were recently found to be the lowest of 187 countries surveyed by the UN.
Mr Kabila has been president since 2001 following the assassination of his father.Mr Kabila has been president since 2001 following the assassination of his father.
Last week, Mr Kabila admitted there had been mistakes in the election process but said no poll was 100% perfect and he rejected concerns that the results lacked credibility. Last week, Mr Kabila admitted there had been mistakes in the electoral process, but said no poll was 100% perfect and he rejected concerns that the results lacked credibility.
The US-based Carter Center, which sent observers to the election, said the vote was too flawed to be credible.The US-based Carter Center, which sent observers to the election, said the vote was too flawed to be credible.
The US state department called for a review of irregularities and the EU described parts of the election process as "chaotic".The US state department called for a review of irregularities and the EU described parts of the election process as "chaotic".
However, the African Union described the elections as a success.However, the African Union described the elections as a success.
Inside DR Congo Inside DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo covers 2,344,858 square km of land in the centre of Africa, making it the 12th largest country in the world.The Democratic Republic of Congo covers 2,344,858 square km of land in the centre of Africa, making it the 12th largest country in the world.
DR Congo has abundant mineral wealth. It has more than 70% of the world's coltan, used to make vital components of mobile phones, 30% of the planet's diamond reserves and vast deposits of cobalt, copper and bauxite. This wealth however has attracted looters and fuelled the country's civil war. Despite the country's size, transport infrastructure is very poor. Of 153,497km of roads, only 2,794km are paved. There are around 4,000 km of railways but much is narrow-gauge track and in poor condition. Waterways are vital to transport goods but journeys can take months to complete. Overcrowded boats frequently capsize, while DR Congo has more plane crashes than any other country. With an estimated population of 71 million, DR Congo is the fourth most populous country in Africa. Some 35% of the population live in cities and the capital Kinshasa is by far the largest, with more than 8 million inhabitants. DR Congo has around 200 ethnic identities with the majority of people belonging to the Kongo, Luba and Mongo groups. Given its size and resources DR Congo should be a prosperous country, but years of war, corruption and economic mismanagement have left it desperately poor. In 2011 it lags far behind in many key development indicators, with average life expectancy increasing by only 2 years since 1980, after a period when it actually fell during the mid 1990s.DR Congo has abundant mineral wealth. It has more than 70% of the world's coltan, used to make vital components of mobile phones, 30% of the planet's diamond reserves and vast deposits of cobalt, copper and bauxite. This wealth however has attracted looters and fuelled the country's civil war. Despite the country's size, transport infrastructure is very poor. Of 153,497km of roads, only 2,794km are paved. There are around 4,000 km of railways but much is narrow-gauge track and in poor condition. Waterways are vital to transport goods but journeys can take months to complete. Overcrowded boats frequently capsize, while DR Congo has more plane crashes than any other country. With an estimated population of 71 million, DR Congo is the fourth most populous country in Africa. Some 35% of the population live in cities and the capital Kinshasa is by far the largest, with more than 8 million inhabitants. DR Congo has around 200 ethnic identities with the majority of people belonging to the Kongo, Luba and Mongo groups. Given its size and resources DR Congo should be a prosperous country, but years of war, corruption and economic mismanagement have left it desperately poor. In 2011 it lags far behind in many key development indicators, with average life expectancy increasing by only 2 years since 1980, after a period when it actually fell during the mid 1990s.