DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has announced a successor that will stand as a candidate for his ruling coalition in the December 2018 presidential election.

The candidate is in the person of Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former minister of interior. His nomination was confirmed by information minister Lambert Mende.

Kabila, 47, has been in power for 17 years, taking over from his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, who was killed by a bodyguard.

The announcement reported in local media brought an end to speculation that Kabila would bypass the country’s two-term limit to stand in the December 23 elections.

A country of some 80 million people, the Democratic Republic of Congo has never known a peaceful government transition since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.