"I'm in a pleading mission because there are two resolutions that were pending in the House to impose sanctions on Congolese officials," Kikaya said. "My mission is to plead with American officials and to prove to them that sanctions are not a solution to help us resolve our problems." Washington has threatened sanctions against political figures over delays in the vote that had been set for November. "We're ready to consider targeted sanctions under those circumstances," the official said, adding: "It is something we're exploring and looking at." Kikaya denied that Kabila was seeking to stay in power and pushed back at accusations that the delay in the election was "purposefully engineered."

Source: The Star September 17, 2016 03:56 UTC