News: the UDPS of Mbuji-Mayi declines the consultations initiated by the governor of the province of Kasaï Oriental
In the Congolese political landscape, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) occupies a prominent place as the ruling party. However, the UDPS federation of Mbuji-Mayi has just declined to participate in the consultations initiated by the governor of Kasai Oriental province.
Jean-Paul Bwebwe Kapo, federal president of the UDPS Mbuji-Mayi, describes these consultations as “non-event” and affirms that his federation is not concerned by them. In an interview with the local press, he explains that he received an invitation to participate, but thought it best to decline.
According to Jean-Paul Bwebwe Kapo, the UDPS was not directly or indirectly associated with these consultations and does not intend to respond to them. He also questions the motives of the governor of the province in launching these consultations. He believes that these should have been organized at the start of the legislature to meet the expectations of the population.
He also points out that the provincial government should focus on implementing its governance program rather than consulting all sections of the population, without specifying for what purpose.
For its part, the UDPS rural federation of Kasai Oriental was received by the provincial authority. The representatives of this ruling party discussed with the governor the preparation of the general elections scheduled for December 2023. They expressed their support for President Félix Tshisekedi and underlined the importance of finding deputies who will help him carry out his work.
The governor for his part reaffirmed his closeness to the UDPS and asked the party to raise awareness among the population and put in place strategies to elect the candidates of the UDPS as well as those of the allied parties.
Faced with messages of demobilization and weakening of the party, the UDPS executives present at the consultations called on the population to remain vigilant and not to allow themselves to be destabilized.
This situation testifies to the tensions within the province of Kasaï Oriental, with on the one hand a federation of the UDPS which declines the consultations and on the other a rural federation which takes part in them. The political stakes and power struggles are palpable, suggesting continued instability in the region.
It remains to be seen how this situation will develop and what the long-term political consequences will be. In the meantime, the UDPS of Mbuji-Mayi maintains its position of refusal of the consultations, affirming not to be concerned by them