GABORONE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's foreign affairs minister said on Thursday the country's new administration under President Mokgweetsi Masisi will not change its stance on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) until the country holds credible elections.
Vincent Seretse, Botswana's new Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, told media in the capital Gaborone that the diamond rich Southern Africa nation will continue to reiterate her displeasure with DRC.
Botswana has taken step to directly criticize DRC President Joseph Kabila on his refusal to hold long overdue elections.
Seretse said the decision is driving deadly violence and a growing humanitarian emergency in the DRC.
"Botswana urges the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation," said Seretse.
The newly appointed Seretse said the stance is in line with the country's foreign policy, adding that Botswana would continue to make her position known.
"We would wish DRC to reflect and hold elections. We want democracy to prevail in DRC," said Seretse.
Kabila has repeatedly postponed elections in what critics see as an attempt to retain power.
Meanwhile DRC is currently reeling under growing political unrest, some of it backed by the powerful Catholic Church.
The most recent round of protests saw some demonstrators killed by security forces and the arrests of several protesting clergymen.
