Instead in complicated circumstances, long considered an heir in politics, Félix Tshisekedi has never ceased to seek ways and means to assert his power, to emancipate himself and to make a name for himself. Barely two years ago, the ex-opponent fainted briefly during his inauguration speech on January 24, 2019, under the effect of emotion, intense heat and heavy bulletproof vest he was not used to wearing. “I apologize to the President of the Republic”, he launched after having recovered his spirits under the impassive gaze of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, who gave him that day in a hug the symbols of power, first transition without bloodshed in Congo.
Barely two years later, while Félix Tshisekedi is in the process of overturning the foundations of this unprecedented alliance – one of the last episodes of which, the sidelining of the President of the National Assembly, is played out in the next few days -, time has come to take stock. And, on the Congolese side, it is rather severe. “We are more than disappointed. We no longer know which way to turn with this power which declared to work to get the people out of misery but which is, on the contrary, in the pay of a few individuals who are getting richer night and day ”, annoys Thierry Mbumba, 41-year-old taxi-bus driver, met in Kinshasa. And Omer Kitebe, 32 years old, teacher, assener, a bit defeatist: “Nothing good will come from the regime of Felix Tshisekedi. Everything is dark, dear compatriots, let us just be patient. Suffice to say that the Congolese are weary of the immobility in the course of State affairs, of this development which takes its time, of the real false break between President Tshisekedi and his former ally Kabila, finally of the uncertain rapprochement around of the nation’s “sacred union” with the former allies of Jean-Pierre Bemba and Moïse Katumbi.
The Congolese are tired
Alerted by the deterioration of the social situation of the populations, Félix Tshisekedi announced last December the end of the ruling FCC-CACH coalition to create the “sacred union” of political and social forces with a view to the overhaul of the government action. To do this, the Head of State has launched all-out consultations and, recently, we have seen him appeal to former allies such as Moïse Katumbi or Jean-Pierre Bemba and even to a fringe of supporters of the ‘old regime. But, on closer inspection, this much sought-after sacred union already seems to give way to the sharing of power. And it was Jean-Marc Kabund, the deputy and president of the UDPS, Tshisekedi’s party, who leaked the information that the two opponents Katumbi and Bemba are trying to obtain key positions, including the prime minister and the presidency of the National Assembly. “I can’t understand why they are proposing such a thing and told them it is impossible. You came to kill the sacred union, ”he said in a meeting with MPs. These statements inflamed the country and dampened the hopes aroused by the announcement of the breakdown of the ruling coalition. “Whether it’s this massive Sacred Union scam or the FCC-CACH coalition, the people are not getting their share. It’s just a name change, but the content remains the same, the sharing of power between politicians or friends, ”analyzes Luc Bolo, graduate and street vendor in the capital. Éric Nsenga, spokesperson for the Church of Christ in the Congo (Lutheran), for his part remains optimistic about the success of the sacred union: “If everyone keeps a positive outlook, far from hatred and pride, selfishness, triumphalism, personal calculations, the sacred union can serve as a new start for the DRC. The secret is to give it ideological content, ”he tweeted.
While waiting for the sacred union
Cantor of the rule of law and good governance, Félix Tshisekedi knows that he is expected at the turn. Before his assault on the pro-Kabila parliamentary majority, he dismissed pillars of the security system, intelligence boss Kalev Mutond and army inspector general John Numbi. From now on, to tip the majority in his favor, Felix Tshisekedi does not hesitate to be firm. “We have witnessed in recent days gruesome scenes where the power in place, to tip the majority in its favor, debauched elected officials with banknotes and promises of prestigious positions in the next government,” denounces Junior Wombe, supporter of Martin Fayulu.
The opponent, who did not take part in the consultations started by Félix Tshisekedi, does not say anything else. “I call you to discernment and invite you not to be fooled by petty positioning wars served by those who have confiscated your sovereignty. The latter have opted for the theatricalization of reasoned choice and manipulation in order to stage a political divorce in your eyes, while they recently affirmed that there was no crisis in the DRC. In reality, what we are witnessing today is nothing more than an attempt to subtly obscure the negative toll of the past two years by the nominal death of the FCC-CACH coalition, ”Martin Fayulu said in a message to the Congolese. Patrick Nkanga, senior executive of the PPRD, party of former president Kabila, declares: “We know that the violation of the texts has become the principle and its respect the exception. ”
Recognized for his legendary silence, Joseph Kabila, who retired to his private farm in Kashamata, in his stronghold of Lubumbashi, in the south-east of the country, made no comment about the ongoing political transhumance. Clearly, more political maneuvers whose sole objective is the future general elections of 2023. This situation is the human rights activist Jean-Claude Katende who sums it up best: “To hear the Congolese politicians , they are more concerned with the posts than with the future of the country! God sees you ”, he published in a Tweet, very relayed.
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