Headlines: tensions at the top of the state in the DRC

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By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

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Nothing is going right between the two formations in power: the FCC team (the Common Front for the Congo), by Joseph Kabila, and Cach (Cape for Change) by Félix Tshisekedi is not far from the end of the road.

“  The pretext for this new quarrel , relates Ledjely in Guinea, happens to be three bills brought by two FCC deputies, Sakata and Minaku. Law proposals on justice reform which are not unanimous. Indeed, behind certain provisions advocated by the two parliamentarians, we suspect a desire to subordinate the judicial system to the executive in general and to the Minister of Justice in particular. But what caused the crisis , Ledjely points out,it is the transmission by the Minister of Justice of the government's observations relating to these three proposals to the National Assembly, without referring either to President Félix Tshisekedi or to the government. An attitude that the head of state interprets as a denial of his authority. A behavior which irritated him so much that he abruptly interrupted his participation in the Council of Ministers which he chaired last Friday. Then , Ledjely continues, the next day things accelerated with the arrest of Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende, the vice-prime minister in charge of justice (under pressure, the prosecution released the minister after a simple hearing). Then, yesterday Sunday, there was this outing in the form of a protest by the Prime Minister, Sylvestre Ilunga Ilukamba. In short, the tandem at the top of DR Congo has known more serene days.  "

Fear has changed sides for Le Potentiel in Kinshasa

"  The arrest of the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Justice shakes the political class as much as it rekindles the fire ignited by the three legislative proposals initiated by FCC deputies, Minaku and Sakata, on justice reform. For the FCC caciques, the judges begin to sin by excess of zeal. But for a large opinion , points Le Potentiel, it is fear that haunts the Kabbalist camp, those who have been involved for 18 years in the embezzlement of public funds. Between the two, a fact emerges : the Prosecutor's Office issued and executed against its "hierarchical leader" a warrant to bring ! Is this the first step towards the rule of law ? , asks the Kinshasa daily. If not, why is the Republic of judges frightening the FCC monks ?  "

In any case, fearful or not, the Kabila camp is doing well again, says Afrikarabia. "  The unprecedented arrest of the Minister of Justice and his rapid release, shows that in the permanent power struggle between President Tshisekedi and Joseph Kabila, it was the former president who once again won the battle , says the site. specialized in the DRC. At each standoff with the FCC, the UDPS and Félix Tshisekedi are most often forced to retreat. We remember the incredible removal of UDPS deputy Jean-Marc Kabund from his post as 1st vice-president of the National Assembly last May. And to the question of who actually holds power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? The answer becomes more and more clear with this new episode , points Afrikarabia. The FCC holds all legislative, executive and judicial powers ... which makes some observers say that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is gradually shifting to a parliamentary regime, decked out with a president without real powers.  "

For Le Pays au Burkina, “  the confusion between the FCC and Cach is not surprising. Sooner or later it had to happen. Indeed, the marriage between Kabila and Tshisekedi has never been a union of love , notes the daily newspaper from Ouagadougou. It is a marriage that was dictated only by interest. Kabila, to guarantee impunity for himself and his supporters, had not hesitated to manipulate the results of the legislative and presidential elections. To swallow the pill, he had conceded the presidential election to Félix Tshisekedi to the detriment of Martin Fayulu. In return, Tshisekedi had promised his benefactor to "never snoop around in the past". It was from this deal that the alliance of the two personalities was born. Since then, housekeeping scenes have only followed one another.  "

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• Joseph Kabila
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