The United States, European Union, African Union and U.N. mission to Congo all commended President Joseph Kabila on Thursday for agreeing not to seek a third term in an election, a decision that has calmed fears of the country sliding into chaos.
After years of speculation over his intentions, Kabila consented to obey the two-term limit imposed by Congo's constitution on Wednesday, by not entering his name into a poll set for Dec. 23.
As a parting shot, he picked a hard-core former interior minister, who has been placed under EU sanctions, to run instead.