Government consultations in Kasai Oriental: position of the UDPS
In a context of growing political crisis, the governor of Kasai Oriental province has initiated popular consultations. However, it would seem that the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Mbuji-Mayi’s federation, is not interested in these consultations. Jean-Paul Bwebwe Kapo, federal president of the UDPS Mbuji-Mayi, qualifies these consultations as a non-event and affirms that his federation will not participate in these discussions.
According to Jean-Paul Bwebwe Kapo, the UDPS has never been involved in these consultations and will not respond to the governor’s invitation. He questions the relevance of these consultations at this stage, stressing that it would have been more appropriate at the start of the legislature to meet the expectations of the population.
The UDPS, as the party in power, is faced with a delicate situation. On the one hand, his Kasaï Oriental rural federation has been received by the provincial authority and is discussing the preparation of the general elections of December 2023. On the other hand, the Mbuji-Mayi federation distances itself from these consultations, saying that it will not bring anything new to the government program.
Faced with this situation, the executives of the UDPS present at the consultations call on the population to remain vigilant and not to succumb to attempts to destabilize the party. They also ask the population to continue to trust the UDPS and not to give in to messages of disorientation.
The government consultations in Kasai Oriental come after the dismissal of the president of the Provincial Assembly, which plunged the province into a political crisis. The UDPS supports this decision and calls on the provincial deputies to focus on the management of the governorate.
It is obvious that the position of the UDPS on these governmental consultations reflects the political tensions which cross the country. The situation remains unstable and uncertain, and it remains to be seen how the UDPS and the other political actors will manage this crisis and find solutions to meet the expectations of the population.
In conclusion, the UDPS federation of Mbuji-Mayi distances itself from government consultations in Kasaï Oriental, qualifying this initiative as a non-event. The position of the ruling party in the face of this ongoing political crisis will remain a crucial issue in the months to come