Assassination of Chérubin Okende: a blow for the DRC and a challenge for the upcoming elections
The brutal assassination of Chérubin Okende, national deputy and former transport minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has shaken the country’s political scene and raised many questions about its stability in the run-up to general elections.
According to Trésor Kibangula, a former journalist and political analyst, this cowardly and barbaric act plunged the country into a dangerous situation both in terms of security and politics. The assassination of Chérubin Okende adds to a climate of generalized insecurity in the capital Kinshasa and throughout the country.
This tragedy also raises major concerns about the holding of democratic and credible elections in the country. How can we hope for peaceful elections when political actors of the opposition, like Chérubin Okende, are victims of violence? This situation risks hampering the free expression of political actors and calls into question the credibility of the electoral process.
Moïse Katumbi, leader of Together for the Republic, has also qualified this assassination as “political”, adding an additional dimension to this complex affair. Trésor Kibangula notes that this assumption must be seriously taken into account in the analysis, given the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and the recent events related to the opposition.
It is urgent, according to him, to carry out a truly independent and impartial investigation to shed light on this assassination. Congolese justice, which is not always recognized for its impartiality, will have to demonstrate transparency and accountability in order to restore the confidence of the population and political actors.
The assassination of Chérubin Okende adds a dose of psychosis in an already very tense climate with the approach of the elections. It is essential to guarantee the security of political actors and to create the necessary conditions for free and democratic elections.
In conclusion, this tragic assassination constitutes a real blow for the Democratic Republic of Congo and a major challenge for the holding of the upcoming elections. It is imperative that justice be done and that measures be taken to ensure the safety of all political actors in the country