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Congo truce thrown in doubt by opposition veteran’s death

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A macabre tussle over the body of Etienne Tshisekedi, who for 40 years was the unifying force of the Democratic Republic of Congos opposition, threatens to unravel the countrys fragile political truce. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. Tshisekedis death has thrown into confusion a New Years eve agreement that eased a political crisis and is supposed to lead to President Joseph Kabilas stepping-down after elections due later this year. Under the shaky deal, the government and opposition are to establish a transitional administration to rule until the polls are held, though it has been undermined by squabbles over the selection of a prime minister. Tatiana Carayannis, an expert on the DRC, said Tshisekedis death had now thrown the whole transition process into doubt. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our T&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [e-mail] to buy additional rights. https://www.ft.com/content/9e757b16-f752-11e6-9516-2d969e0d3b65 This could not have come at a worse time. It is delaying any possible implementation of the deal, she said.Relatives of Tshisekedi, who died in Brussels more than two weeks ago, are demanding that his body be flown to the DRC and buried in a mausoleum in central Kinshasa, the capital. Mr Kabila, who has ruled the mineral-rich but desperately poor nation since 2001, has pushed back. The body remains stuck in Belgium, amid speculation that the government fears his funeral would become a rallying point for the opposition. Read more at: https://www.ft.com/content/9e757b16-f752-11e6-9516-2d969e0d3b65