Category: Politics

Michel Bongongo, former Minister of Public Service and president of the ABC-RDC party, announced his support for the candidacy of Félix Tshisekedi for the presidential election of December 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In an interview, he highlighted the “satisfactory” record of the current head of state, highlighting progress in various sectors such as diplomacy, the fight against corruption, infrastructure, tax reduction on salaries, the increase in military pensions and free primary education. He also mentioned the efforts made to mobilize Congolese youth, but admitted the costly nature of the war for the populations.

The president of the Provincial Assembly of Kongo Central, Jean-Claude Vuemba, resigned from office last Friday. This decision came following political tensions in the province. Although the reasons for the resignation were unclear, he was accused of having links with one of the main opponents of the Tshisekedi regime. This situation shows the volatile nature of politics in the DRC and highlights the need to strengthen provincial institutions to promote peace and stability.

The UDPS Tshisekedi party demands the resignation of Governor Mathias Kabeya Matshi in the province of Kasai Oriental. The UDPS Tshisekedi federation is organizing a peaceful march this Friday, June 23 to denounce the mismanagement of public affairs. The situation bears witness to the political unrest in the DRC in the run-up to general elections and the presidential term. Peaceful demonstrations allow the voice of the population to be heard and to put pressure on political leaders.

The Ugandan government has set up a commission to conduct negotiations with the Democratic and Allied Forces (ADF), terrorist groups responsible for violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. This initiative is seen as an attempt to put an end to attacks against civilian populations. Uganda’s Minister of Communication and Media, Godefroy Kabianga, said the terrorists would be willing to engage with their government, a peaceful option that has been used in the past. This approach is to be welcomed, as it could be the best solution to restore peace in these regions.

In this article, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) expressed its concerns about the transparency of the ongoing electoral process in the DRC, despite the efforts of the executive to publish the electoral calendar and compile the electoral roll within the time limits. . CENCO calls for a tripartite consultation framework to clarify the issue of Registration Centers, a credible counter-expertise and increased vigilance on the part of citizens. The bishops of CENCO call on the Congolese to unite to work for peace, justice and the progress of the country.

The province of Kwango in the Democratic Republic of Congo is again under curfew due to the threat of the Mobondo militia advancing towards the border with the neighboring province of Kongo Central. The provincial government insists on the need for dialogue with the militiamen to pacify the region. This situation weakens the region which has to face many challenges for its economic and social development.

The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) has called on Congolese to be vigilant during the general elections scheduled for next December to ensure transparent elections. The bishops stressed that the credibility of the results would depend on the vigilance of the populations and called on the Congolese not to elect the opportunists. They also insisted on not leaving the polling stations before the results were posted to avoid any attempt at fraud. The upcoming elections will be an important test for the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Bishops have called for the caution and vigilance of all Congolese to ensure the smooth running of the electoral process and the election of truly elected leaders.

The political climate in the Democratic Republic of Congo is deteriorating as elections approach. The bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo have denounced the decline in the rule of law in the country and the repression of the opposition. Opponents were arrested and their residences searched. The opposition mobilized to demand fair and transparent elections, but the security forces brutally suppressed the demonstrations. The country also faces other challenges such as armed violence, human trafficking and sexual violence in sports.

The Mobondo militia, which has been terrorizing the west of the country for a year, recently extended its attacks to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Catholic bishops condemned the extension of this militia and also drew attention to another militia, the Special Brigade of the UDPS, which terrorizes the population of Kinshasa. Victims number in the hundreds, with entire villages burned and thousands displaced. The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is critical and requires urgent intervention by the authorities to protect citizens and put an end to the activities of the armed militias that are ravaging the country.

The last ordinary session of the National Assembly in the Democratic Republic of Congo ended without debate on the “Tshani” law. This law, which limits access to certain sovereign positions, will be on the agenda during the next session in September. The “Red card against human trafficking and sexual violence in sports” campaign has aroused the commitment of many sports actors and the Congolese government. The province of Kasai Central faces a major concern to strengthen security. The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face a major humanitarian crisis with more than 6 million displaced people.