President Joseph Kabila has sacked some officials who called on him not to cling to power.

Just a year to the upcoming presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016, the presidential majority is in disarray with the bone of contention being the debate over President Joseph Kabila’s bid in the election.

In this connection, seven senior political figures were kicked out of the ruling coalition on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 for signing a letter on Monday, September 14, 2015, urging President Joseph Kabila not to cling to power after his term expires next year, Reuters reported citing government officials. In the letter to Kabila, the leaders of G7, a grouping of parties within the coalition, demanded immediate steps to ensure a presidential election scheduled for November 2016 is held on time.  In response, Kibila’s wrath fell on one of the key figures, Planning Minister Olivier Kamitatu, whom he sacked from his post later in the day by presidential ordinance.  The ordinance said he had failed to show the discretion expected of members of government. Olivier Kamitatu reacted by stating that, "By firing a minister who asked him to respect the constitution, Kabila has shown that he is at the end of his line," Reuters quoted.

In another stringent measure, President Kabila stripped Pierre Lumbi, president of the Social Movement for Renewal (MSR) from his post of special counselor to the Chief of State in matters of security. Lumbi’s MSR was the second-largest party in the presidential majority. Government spokesman, Lambert Mende, himself a member of the presidential majority said on the state-run television that, "The authors of the memorandum are excluding themselves from the presidential majority," Reuters quoted. He reportedly rejected the letter's suggestion that Kabila intended to violate the constitution, saying it had unjustly exposed the president to public vilification. However, Kabila has not yet said he will step down in 2016.