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DR Congo: a man from the seraglio to lead the National Assembly

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi began Wednesday to consolidate his new power over all the institutions of the central African giant after having sidelined his predecessor Joseph Kabila, with the election of a new president of the National Assembly, deemed close. Out of 466 voters, Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga was elected President of the Assembly with 389 votes; 69 ballots were declared invalid and there were 8 abstentions, Agence France-Presse noted. This election is not really a surprise. Sole candidate – his competitors having been disqualified – and dean of the Assembly at 78, Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga officially joined President Tshisekedi in December after leaving Joseph Kabila and his Common Front for Congo (FCC) , like a good part of the political class.

Who is Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga?

Originally from Kwango, a graduate in political and administrative sciences from the University of Lubumbashi, the dean of the lower house was elected on his land in the 1970s under Mobutu Sese Seko. On Wednesday, he pledged in his speech to fight poverty and promote the rule of law during his tenure. He also promises to strengthen collegiality, proximity and transparency around other deputies. And for good reason, he knows perfectly how the Congolese institutions work. Member of several parliamentary committees until 1990, this veteran of Congolese political life has several times the functions of minister, ranging from Mines to Portfolio passing through Energy and Land Affairs, Agriculture, Public Health, Labor and Social Security as well as Sport and Leisure… until the fall of Mobutu in 1997. He then took the road to exile, for only a few months, before returning to the country in 1998 to found the Convention for the Republic and Democracy (CRD) .

The pro-Tshisekedi in force

With this election, the Head of State continues his march towards control of all the levers of power to apply his reform policy supported by the United States and the European Union, in this country including the eastern region (Kivu and Ituri) is plagued by violence linked to the presence of dozens of armed groups. At the end of the vote on Wednesday, a pro-Tshisekedi collegiate office, composed of seven members, including two women, replaced the old one in the Assembly where the “Sacred Union of the Nation”, a new political platform desired by Félix Tshisekedi, now claims 391 out of 500 deputies. All the other candidacies, for various positions, not sponsored by this “sacred union of the nation”, had been invalidated.

The establishment of the new office proves that “the train of democracy is well and truly underway in our country” and “together we will overcome the vicissitudes and pockets of insecurity” in the east of the country, declared Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga at the end of the parliamentary session.

With this election, President Tshisekedi has completely returned the former parliamentary majority loyal to Joseph Kabila, since he announced on December 6 the end of the ruling coalition with his predecessor. As of December 10, a majority of deputies formerly loyal to Kabila voted in favor of the dismissal of the former pro-Kabila president of the Assembly, Jeanine Mabunda, and of all the members of his office.

Until early December, supporters of ex-president Kabila claimed a majority of more than 300 deputies out of the 500 since the legislative elections of December 30, 2018. The election of the new president of the Assembly comes a few days after the election. dismissal of Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, following a vote against his government in the National Assembly, under the provisional presidency of Christophe Mboso N’Kodia Pwanga.

Reste le cas Thambwe Mwamba

At the same time, the President of the Senate, Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, the last close to Joseph Kabila at the head of an institution, is facing a double legal and political offensive. Indeed, the prosecutor of the Court of Cassation requested the Senate office to “authorize the investigation” against Mr. Thambwe Mwamba, “for embezzlement of public funds”. The alleged embezzlement concerns “two million euros” and “one million dollars” that Mr. Thambwe Mwamba was given “to his residence” on January 6. In its response to the prosecution’s request, the Senate office confirmed that Alexis Thambwe Mwamba had “agreed to house these funds temporarily at his home”, because of “a strong effervescence” that day, in the premises. of the National Assembly which adjoin those of the Senate. “The treasurer recovered the funds to send them to the treasury of the Senate” the next day, specified the office of the Senate, estimating “that there is no matter to authorize the requested instruction”. “There was no hijacking on my part,” Alexis Thambwe Mwamba said on state television RTNC.

In addition, a motion of censure for “mismanagement”, signed by 64 senators out of 109 in total, was filed Tuesday against all members of the Senate office, except its vice-president Samy Badibanga, a pro-Tshisekedi. “The petition was, in my opinion, not filed for issues related to management issues, but for political reasons,” Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told the magazine Young Africa. However, “if those who gave us the mandate decide to withdraw it, I will leave without problem”, he also said on the RTNC. On Wednesday, the secretary general of the Senate (a senior official, not elected) called a plenary session for Thursday with the agenda: “identification and installation of the oldest member”, who will serve as the provisional office of this assembly. Former Minister of Justice, Alexis Thambwe Mwamba is the last supporter of ex-President Kabila still at the head of an institution. Third personality of the country, the President of the Senate replaces the Head of State in case of impediment. The next session of the Assembly and the Senate is scheduled for March 15.


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