The long-awaited article has finally arrived and plunges us into the heart of the burning news. Today, we are going to talk about the reactions that are multiplying following the invitation sent by the president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to life senator Joseph Kabila Kabange. This invitation aims to initiate discussions around the ongoing electoral process. However, the kabilists do not hide their anger and strongly criticize the head of the CENI.
Denis Kadima, with his overflowing audacity, aroused the ire of the Kabilists of the Common Front for Congo (FCC). As part of his consultations with political opposition actors, Kadima wants to meet Joseph Kabila to discuss the electoral process and provide him with assurances. However, the invitation sent to the former President of the Republic does not specify the day, place or date of this requested meeting. This correspondence was dated July 1, 2023 and bears the acknowledgment of receipt from the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD).
The reactions were not long in coming and the kabilists expressed their dissatisfaction in a virulent way. India Omari, a prominent member of the FCC, calls Kadima’s initiative a big joke. He believes that President Kabila is above such taunts and claims that the only person authorized to engage the FCC is President Raymond Tshibanda. For his part, Ferdinand Kambere, secretary general of the PPRD, is firmly opposed to this approach. He considers that Kadima does not have the legitimacy to convene such a consultation and affirms that the correspondence should have been addressed to Raymond Tshibanda rather than to Kabila. Gravel Dinganga, a goodwill ambassador supporting Joseph Kabila, adds that the FCC does not recognize the current CENI and considers Kadima’s letter as a mere piece of paper.
This invitation from Kadima falls like a ceasefire-violating rocket. The president of the CENI, in his quest to build a last-minute image, seems not to have been well advised. This letter is perceived as a provocation by the Kabilists and only irritates them more. They demand a recomposition of the CENI and the Constitutional Court. Interestingly, during a recent meeting with European Union diplomats, those close to Joseph Kabila expressed their rejection of the electoral process as it currently stands.
In conclusion, Kadima’s invitation to Kabila caused a wave of anger among the FCC Kabilists. The latter strongly criticize the president of the CENI by questioning his legitimacy. The situation remains tense and the recomposition of the CENI remains a major challenge for political actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo