{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-condemns-kabilas-refusal-to-step-down-at-the-end-of-constitutionally-mandated-term-calls-for-immediate-end-to-violence", "Senator Markey Condemns Kabila’s Refusal to Step Down at the End of Constitutionally-Mandated Term, Calls for Immediate End to Violence", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Markey Condemns Kabila\u2019s Refusal to Step Down at the End of Constitutionally-Mandated Term, Calls for Immediate End to Violence \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 20, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBoston (December 20, 2016) \u2013 Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee\u2019s Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee, released the following statement on the refusal of Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila to step down on December 19, the constitutionally-mandated end of his term. Media sources report that government security personnel have used force to break up peaceful protest in Kinshasa and other cities and that some protestors have been detained.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cI strongly condemn President Kabila\u2019s refusal to leave office as mandated by the country\u2019s constitution. Kabila\u2019s persistent efforts to cling to power are a flagrant violation of democratic norms and an affront to the people of the DRC, whose right to choose their next leader through free and fair elections is guaranteed by the constitution.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cI also am deeply troubled by reports that the DRC\u2019s security forces are using force against peaceful protestors. I reiterate my call on the DRC\u2019s government to cease all intimidation and violence, end restrictions on the media and internet, and allow peaceful political activity.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cPresident Kabila and other DRC officials must understand that the eyes of the international community are upon them.\u00a0 If they continue to stifle the democratic process and violate human rights, they will suffer further consequences, including additional U.S. sanctions.\u201d\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-condemns-kabilas-refusal-to-step-down-at-the-end-of-constitutionally-mandated-term-calls-for-immediate-end-to-violence"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9651020411401987, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}