Title: Moïse Katumbi on the electoral campaign in Kananga: a visit which arouses tensions
Introduction :
Candidate number 3 for the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moïse Katumbi, is expected this Monday, December 4 in the town of Kananga. This visit is part of his electoral campaign and comes at a time when the city is in the grip of a day of ghost town decreed by the UDPS/Tshisekedi to commemorate the killing of people from Kasai in Malemba Nkulu. This visit, which is intended to be a highlight of Moïse Katumbi’s campaign, does not fail to arouse tensions and divide public opinion.
The tense context of Moïse Katumbi’s visit to Kananga:
Moïse Katumbi’s visit to Kananga comes in a particularly tense context. Indeed, the dead city day decreed by the UDPS/Tshisekedi to commemorate the tragedy of Malemba Nkulu is perceived by some as a gesture of solidarity towards the victims and their families. However, other voices are being raised and denouncing this decision as an attempt to disrupt Katumbi’s electoral campaign.
The question of security:
The question of security is also at the heart of concerns linked to Moïse Katumbi’s visit to Kananga. In a region still marked by violence linked to the conflict in Kasai, each political trip is a challenge in terms of security. Local authorities have announced special measures to ensure the safety of Katumbi’s visit, but doubts persist about their real effectiveness.
The political issues of the visit:
Moïse Katumbi’s visit to Kananga has an important political character to the extent that this region of the country is considered a stronghold of the UDPS/Tshisekedi, the party of his rival Félix Tshisekedi. Katumbi is thus seeking to score points and mobilize voters in this region for the upcoming presidential elections.
Conclusion :
Moïse Katumbi’s visit to Kananga as part of his electoral campaign is not without causing tensions and controversies. In a context of a ghost town and security concerns, this visit has an important political stake for candidate number 03 and his rival Félix Tshisekedi. It remains to be seen what impact this visit will have on public opinion and on the conduct of the next presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.