KINSHASA—
The president of Democratic Republic of Congo told foreign nations on Monday to respect his country's sovereignty after several urged him to comply with the constitution and not to run for re-election.
Though Joseph Kabila has yet to publicly declare his intentions, Congo is rife with speculation that he is looking for ways to remain in charge of the vast, mineral-rich nation after his second elected five-year term in office ends in 2016.
“We are always open to the opinions, advice and suggestions of our partners, but never to injunctions,” Kabila said during a rare public speech before a joint session of parliament.
Kabila came to power in 2001 when his father, Laurent, was assassinated in the middle of a conflict that sucked in regional armies and killed millions of Congolese. 
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