August 15, 1992 remains a significant date for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and for the political movement of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS/Tshisekedi). It was on that day that the main opponent of Marshal Mobutu’s regime, Étienne Tshisekedi Wa Mulumba, was elected Prime Minister by the Sovereign National Conference (CNS).
This election aroused great jubilation among the majority of the Congolese people who were fed up with the oppressive dictatorship of the “Great Leopard” which had impoverished and brought the country to its knees. For the first time in the history of Zaire, a Prime Minister has acceded to this post by election, and not by the will of the president in power.
The arrival of Étienne Tshisekedi as Prime Minister was accompanied by a wave of hope and change. Ill-gotten assets have been returned to the Congolese state, thus signaling the will to put an end to corruption and illicit enrichment. In addition, the national currency has appreciated against foreign currencies, which has favored a drop in the prices of basic necessities on the Congolese market.
However, this period of joy was short-lived. Étienne Tshisekedi was fired by President Mobutu in January 1993, following a controversy related to the circulation of a new banknote of five million Zaires. This eviction generated a new political crisis and contributed to an institutional blockage of the democratic transition.
Despite this break, Étienne Tshisekedi remained a symbol of resistance and courage in the face of the brutality of Mobutu’s regime. His commitment to the Congolese people and his struggle for democracy continued to inspire many UDPS/Tshisekedi activists and supporters.
Today, more than three decades after this historic election, Étienne Tshisekedi’s political legacy lives on. His son, Félix Tshisekedi, became president of the DRC in 2019, thus marking continuity in the fight for democracy and social progress.
This day of August 15 is now celebrated as a day dedicated to the youth of the UDPS/Tshisekedi, in order to commemorate the courage and leadership of the man who was one of the pioneers of the political opposition in the DRC.
The story of Étienne Tshisekedi reminds us that the fight for democracy and justice is a long-term fight. His journey remains an inspiration to all who seek positive change in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world.
Through this recollection of the election of Étienne Tshisekedi as Prime Minister, it is essential to remember that the fight for democracy and human rights never ends. The ideals of justice and progress continue to animate the minds of those who want to build a better future, not only in the DRC, but all over the world..
Etienne Tshisekedi will forever remain in the history of the DRC as a symbol of courage, resistance and hope for the Congolese people