Congo Opposition Leader’s Death Jeopardizes Political Deal

  • Tshisekedi’s death comes at critical point in power transfer
  • December deal to ease Kabila out of presidency mired in delays
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The death of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s main opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, puts in jeopardy a political deal aimed at getting President Joseph Kabila to leave office.

Tshisekedi, president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress and one of the country’s longest-serving political leaders, died Wednesday in a hospital in Brussels, party spokesman Augustin Kabuya said, after struggling with illness for many years. He was 84.