One week before the deadline for submitting candidacies for the presidential election scheduled for December 20 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, opponent Martin Fayulu made a surprising announcement. While he had boycotted the electoral process, he reversed his decision during a press conference in Kinshasa on Saturday September 30.
Martin Fayulu’s decision to run in the presidential election was motivated by the pressing demand of the population. The Lamuka coalition, of which he is a part, has decided to submit its candidacy for the presidential election in December 2023. This turnaround aims to demand more transparency in the organization of the elections.
Since his defeat in 2018, Martin Fayulu still accuses the system of having stolen his victory. He is therefore keen to guarantee this time the transparency of the vote. To achieve this, his party demands that the election results be announced by each polling station. This measure would allow more effective control of the electoral process.
Although some executives of the Lamuka coalition did not approve of Martin Fayulu’s decision to run for president, he affirms that this decision was taken consensually by the majority of members of the college of presidents. Regarding governance, Martin Fayulu plans to work with the deputies who will be elected, despite the boycott of his party during the legislative elections.
The candidacy of Martin Fayulu marks the return of an opposition heavyweight in the presidential race. In 2018, he had already faced current president Félix Tshisekedi. By presenting himself again, Martin Fayulu is relaunching the debate on the need for the opposition to unite around a single candidacy.
However, this candidacy risks causing turmoil within his party. Indeed, Martin Fayulu had initially conditioned his participation on the audit of the electoral register and had prevented his lieutenants from running in the legislative elections. This last minute decision to present himself could raise questions and tensions within his party.
Despite the controversies and challenges, the candidacy of Martin Fayulu brings a new dynamic to the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The coming weeks will therefore be decisive for observing the evolution of the Congolese political landscape and the position of Martin Fayulu against his adversaries.