In a recent article, we discover the unusual political career of John Tibasima Bahemuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While he is currently detained in the central prison of Bunia, Bahemuka has announced his candidacy for the national deputy and even for the presidency. His ambition is all the more surprising as he is accused of wanting to unify local armed groups into a single militia. Despite these circumstances, Bahemuka is determined to serve his country and even managed to get his voter registration card from his cell. He is presented as the driving force behind the rebel movement in the making “National Union for Integral Change” and advocates a change in the government system from a decentralized to a federal system. His candidacy and his controversial situation arouse the interest and curiosity of the Congolese people. Bahemuka’s political future remains uncertain, but his bold journey and determination to shake things up are worth watching.
Category: Politics
The assassination of Chérubin Okende, a member of the Ensemble pour la République party, in Kinshasa has aroused general indignation. The government, ambassadors, presidential candidates and civil society have all condemned this heinous act and called for a thorough investigation. Security and freedom of expression in the Democratic Republic of Congo are in question, and it is crucial that the authorities act quickly to resolve this matter and guarantee the safety of all citizens. Justice must be served and impunity must end for democracy and human rights to prevail.
The body of Chérubin Okende, a member of the Ensemble pour la République party, was found on Avenue des Poids Heavy in Kinshasa, arousing a wave of emotion and caution among Congolese politicians and chancelleries. The EU ambassador expresses his dismay and calls for bringing the culprits to justice. Augustin Matata Ponyo denounces a regime of terror, while Seth Kikuni promises consequences for this assassination. In the majority in power, Steve Mbikayi pays tribute to Chérubin Okende, while in civil society, Bienvenu Matumo qualifies this assassination as a state crime. Jean Claude Katende calls for justice to be done. This event highlights the political and security issues in the DRC and the need to preserve democracy and the rule of law by bringing the culprits to justice.
The article relates the tragic disappearance of Congolese deputy and opponent Cherubin Okende in Kinshasa. His body was found in his car after being abducted the day before by armed men. Cherubin Okende was a prominent member of Moise Katumbi’s party and his death is causing deep consternation. This tragedy is part of a tense context a few months before the elections, where many opponents are already in detention. Solving this murder and protecting political actors is essential to ensure free and fair elections. The disappearance of Cherubin Okende is a loss for the Congolese political scene, but his commitment will remain a source of inspiration to defend democracy and justice in the country.
Despite the efforts made by the Congolese armed forces, insecurity persists in the province of Mai-Ndombe due to the violent activities of the Mobondo militiamen. Thirteen motorcycle taxi drivers were recently taken hostage by these militiamen, and although some have been released, the situation remains worrying. The militiamen are entrenched along the main road between Kwamouth and Masiambio, which maintains an atmosphere of instability in the region. Insecurity also impacts political and civic initiatives, including voter registration by the CENI. In response, the population is organizing peaceful demonstrations to demand firmer measures from the authorities to restore security in the region. It is crucial that coordinated actions are taken to end this persistent insecurity and guarantee peace and stability in the province of Mai-Ndombe.
In this powerful excerpt, we discuss President Félix Tshisekedi’s participation in the Extraordinary SADC Troika Summit. We highlight the importance attached by the Democratic Republic of Congo to regional cooperation to guarantee peace and security in the region. The deployment of SADC troops to the DRC has been approved, reflecting SADC’s commitment to support one of its members facing security challenges. We also underline that despite the efforts made, the security situation in eastern DRC remains worrying, making the mobilization of SADC and other regional actors essential. In conclusion, the participation of the DRC in this regional cooperation opens the way to a more peaceful and prosperous future for the country and the region of Southern Africa.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been faced with a proliferation of political parties since the advent of multipartyism in 1990. With more than 910 registered political formations, this fragmentation poses major challenges for Congolese democracy. If the multiparty system was supposed to bring political openness and overcome tribal and regional divisions, it instead leads to a dispersion of votes, difficulty of governance and confusion for voters. To deal with this situation, a reform of the political landscape is necessary, including calls for the regulation of political parties and a threshold of representativeness. The objective is to find the right balance between pluralism and political stability in order to guarantee effective governance and real citizen participation in the DRC.
“Meeting for peace in the DRC: A major step towards resolving the crisis in the east of the country”
The meeting of technical consultation teams for peace in the DRC, supervised by the facilitator Uhuru Kenyatta and with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, made it possible to assess the progress made in resolving the crisis in the East of the country. The priority was to maintain the previously concluded peace agreement, while encouraging national unity and the search for durable solutions. This meeting demonstrates the commitment of the international community and neighboring countries to pacify the region and hope for a more peaceful future for the DRC.
France expressed its support for the implementation of the Luanda roadmap and the Nairobi process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the French Ambassador to the DRC, this commitment is an absolute priority and must guide all future actions. France stresses the importance of military and defense cooperation between the two countries, in order to strengthen the DRC’s capacity to ensure its sovereignty and guarantee the security of its territory. France is also positioning itself as diplomatic support and wishes to contribute to stabilizing the situation in eastern DRC.
The locality of Bukombo-centre is currently under occupation by M23 terrorists, supported by the Rwandan Armed Forces, thus endangering the population in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The terrorists managed to take control of the area after fighting with local armed groups. The population had to flee to nearby localities to escape this situation. The local authorities had been notified, but the occupation took place anyway. This worrying situation also affects the neighboring territory of Masisi. It is crucial that the competent authorities and the international community act quickly to protect the civilian population and restore peace in the region. The population needs support to regain safety and rebuild their lives in a region ravaged by conflict.