On Friday, May 19, 2023, Moïse Katumbi, leader of Ensemble, gathered a large crowd in Kinshasa, in the commune of N’Djili, a day before the demonstration planned by the opposition the following Saturday. Taking advantage of his visit to the family of Trésor Mputu, former captain of the football team Tout Puissant Mazembe, who plans to enter politics with the support of Katumbi, he invited the population to join the leaders of the opposition during the next day’s march.
However, the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains tense, despite the authorization granted by the authorities to the opposition to demonstrate along a well-defined route. Other political formations were also allowed to demonstrate, auguring a potentially eventful day.
In addition, the World Bank recently suspended its financing in the DRC, where the economic and political situation remains complex and fragile. However, initiatives such as the Musienene special economic zone are moving towards industrialization, while the restructuring of the Social Fund remains a priority for the World Bank and the Congolese authorities.
Finally, the challenges of the DRC in the east of the country remain numerous, with a recent armed attack in the Virunga National Park having caused several deaths and injuries, as well as tensions around the Kyavinyonge fishery involving groups of auto -defense. In this context, the East African regional force is stepping up its military cooperation to deal with instability, while the meeting between the deputy ministers of defense of Congo and Belgium reflects concerns about the terrorist threats as well as those of the M23.
In short, the situation in the DRC remains complex and susceptible to rapid changes in the economic, political and security fields.