DRC: Martin Fayulu Named Sole Opposition Presidential Candidate - RFI

By RFIPublished on 11-11-2018Modified 11-11-2018 at 20:11

Martin Fayulu has been named the sole opposition candidate for the December 23 elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the choice of the seven main leaders of the opposition after three days of negotiations facilitated by the Kofi Annan Foundation. Opposition Dynamics candidate was not a favorite against Felix Tshisekedi of the UDPS and Vital Kamerhe of the UNC, but after a vote, he was chosen .

With our special correspondent in Geneva, Sonia Rolley

At 61, MP Martin Fayulu is probably not the best known Congolese opponents. But this former director of Exxon Mobile, president of the Ecidé (Commitment for Citizenship and Development), has been in all major events since 2015 and the start fight against the third term of Joseph Kabila.

In the street in January 2015, in the street in September 2016, he was even injured, also present during the walks of Christian laity. It is the supporter of a line without concession to the ruling coalition. He convinced by his constancy, he who has never betrayed, assure his relatives.

When the news spread, well before the official announcement, many did not believe it especially among the UDPS and UNC executives who claimed that he had neither the political weight of a Felix Tshisekedi, or even that of Vital Kamerhe. " Maybe, but he will have behind the largest opposition coalition that has ever been seen in the DRC, " they say in the entourage of the seven.

During the press conference, former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba defended this choice in Lingala, it is up to the leaders to accept this choice at their bases. This is also what Felix Tshisekedi of the UDPS said that some of the executives had said it was Tshisekedi or nothing. The latter admitted that it would probably be very hard for his base, but that the opposition had chosen to engage in a democratic exercise and was ready to bow. In any case, this will be the first time that the opposition will come together to an election in the Congo.

" I want to thank the eternal almighty God and the opposition leaders ," Martin Fayulu told a news conference. " I am only a spokesman, the spokesman for our fight for freedom. The Congolese people need leaders whom they themselves will choose, "he added.

What feeling do I have? It is a feeling of joy that my colleagues, leaders of the opposition, trusted me to lead this joint opposition candidacy. So, now the fight is being waged to obtain credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections, that is to say, this fight in which we must make every effort to ensure that these elections comply with the electoral law and comply with the electoral calendar (. ..). That is to say without voting machine and without corrupt electoral file with fictitious and continue to get the political relaxation in our country.

Martin Fayulu: "The fight is committed to obtain credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections ... without a voting machine"

11-11-2018 - By Sonia Rolley

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