Headlines: thunderbolt in the DRC with the detention of V. Kamerhe on remand

Audio 04:23

Vital Kamerhe, chief of staff to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi. RFI / Sonia Rolley

By: Aurélien Devernoix

Publicity

" The end of Fatshivit?" Launches La Prospérité . Fatshivit is the word suitcase created during the presidential election to present the tandem formed by Félix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe, alliance which led to the accession to the post of head of state of the first named and the appointment of the second as chief of staff to the presidency.

The newspaper returns to the incredible scenario of yesterday Wednesday with the summoning of Vital Kamerhe before the General Prosecutor's Office in Kinshasa to discuss a case of possible embezzlement allocated to the 100-day emergency program launched by President Tshisekedi. But before the prosecutor, the chief of staff " went from the status of a simple informant to that of an inmate, " exclaims La Prospérité, which relates the arms deals that took place during the day on social networks between supporters of the presidential party, the UDPS and those of the formation of Vital Kamerhe, the UNC. " Is war started? Wonders the daily newspaper.

The question deserves to be asked, because the political stake is important, but also the judicial side: Radio Okapi reports that Vital Kamerhe risks up to 20 years in prison in this case.

Especially since the hearing of the boss of the UNC was difficult, reports Mediacongo.net : he experienced " enormous difficulties in answering certain questions from the prosecutor, in particular on public procurement over the counter [ or on] the presence of his signature on certain documents, "says the news site.

Prosperity wonders about “ the inquisitorial nature of the preliminary investigation ”, wondering if there is not a form of “ relentlessness ” in this case or “ outside interference ”, while recalling that the function of Vital Kamerhe does not offer him any privilege due to his rank and that he is " a litigant like everyone else. "

Congolese media also concerned about the health impact of the episode

Alaunerdc.com returns to this " day of nightmares " with a large gathering of Vital Kamerhe supporters at the end of the morning before the Court of Appeal, not to mention journalists and members of civil society.

" Barrier gestures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus such as social distancing and gatherings of more than 20 people are flouted, " alarms the news site, while " the police are helpless to this spectacle ." The arrival of the chief of staff of the presidency turns into a total delirium, his militants want to touch him at all costs . And it takes the intervention of the police and their security service to "get him out of the crowd." "

The Congolese media, on the other hand, do not report any incident during the transfer of Vital Kamerhe to Makala prison, Alaunerdc noting however that the penitentiary establishment " has never received such a great distinguished guest since its foundation during the colonial era. "

An incarceration which intervenes in any case in parallel with the release of several dozen detainees from the same Makala prison, reports Radio Okapi , in the context of the fight against Covid-19

And the imprisonment of Vital Kamerhe reacts beyond the Congolese borders.

And in particular in Burkina Faso where the daily newspaper Today in Faso wonders if this pre- trial detention is " an early settlement of accounts before 2023 ", date of the next presidential election in the DRC. " Start of the clash " at Cash, the political alliance between the parties of Félix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe, continues the newspaper, estimating that the chief of staff of the presidency was obviously " dropped " when he had " two umbrellas »Of importance, first of all his position and his proximity to former President Kabila.

It is in any case " proof that things are no longer as they were in the Democratic Republic of Congo ", judges Observer Paalga , for whom " such a situation would indeed have been unimaginable under Jospeh Kabila, even if it is necessary beware of thinking that justice has become all powerful and independent. "

" The hour of divorce " Tshisekedi Kamerhe, may have struck, continues the Observer Paalga, in particular with " the dispersion with tear gas of the supporters of Kamerhé . "

But Today in Faso wonders if Félix Tshisékédi "is he not risking big himself, because [his chief of staff] was his fuse, his firewall " and adds Observer Paalga, " the great authorizing officer ”of the new president's flagship project, this 100-day program launched a little over a month ago and which is already the subject of an audit and therefore henceforth a judicial inquiry.

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