Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – The four Congolese opposition leaders, Martin Fayulu, Moise Katumbi, Augustin Matata Ponyo and Delly Sesanga, signatories of the Lubumbashi declaration, will organize a popular meeting in Place Sainte Thérèse, in Kinshasa, on next Saturday, June 17. They want to discuss with the people of Kinshasa on “the important issues of the nation”.
In a context marked by the repression of the opposition march on Saturday May 20, and the recent action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on Thursday May 25, these four leaders have decided to organize this meeting to “resist and exercise citizen vigilance”. They explain that they have joined forces to obtain the organization of the elections within the constitutional deadline and to bring to a successful conclusion the struggle of the Congolese people for a true rule of law.
This first large-scale activity follows the march of May 20, which brought together Congolese wanting to denounce “the growing insecurity, the high cost of living and the misery of the people, the chaotic electoral process”. Opposition leaders also called for the participation of civil society and announced a series of actions to achieve their demands.
Finally, the specter of the humanitarian crisis affecting the country is still present, particularly in the province of Bandundu where the militiamen are confined in inhuman conditions and risk returning to the guerrillas. Faced with this situation, the Congolese president recently mentioned community tensions in Grand Bandundu and blamed Rwanda.