Delegates from Congolese opposition leaders gathered in Pretoria, South Africa, to explore a possible single candidacy in the presidential election scheduled for December 20, 2023. Moise Katumbi, Denis Mukwege, Martin Fayulu, Augustin Matata Ponyo and Delly Sesanga are among the delegates present at this meeting.
This initiative, led by the South African organization ITI and the Kofi Annan Foundation, aims to bring together opposition forces to present a common candidate and thus strengthen their chances of success against the incumbent candidate.
However, many Congolese political observers remain skeptical about the success of this initiative. Indeed, during previous presidential elections, attempts to regroup the opposition around a single candidate proved unsuccessful.
Among the Congolese political actors who had previously attempted collaboration, we can cite the quartet composed of Moise Katumbi, Martin Fayulu, Augustin Matata Ponyo and Delly Sesanga. Unfortunately, this attempt at collaboration also failed, with the candidates ultimately deciding to run independently of each other.
While the electoral campaign will soon begin, this meeting of opposition delegates aims to relaunch the discussion around a single candidacy. However, it is still too early to say whether this attempt will succeed or whether candidates will continue to present themselves individually.
It is important to emphasize that the success of a single opposition candidacy could represent a real challenge for the incumbent candidate and offer a real political alternative for the Congolese people.
In conclusion, the meeting of Congolese opposition delegates in Pretoria raises both hope and skepticism. While some see it as an opportunity to strengthen the opposition to those in power, others remain pessimistic about the ability of these leaders to unite. The presidential election of December 20, 2023 therefore promises to be a key moment for Congolese politics, where the opposition will have to demonstrate unity and determination to hope for significant political change.