State of health emergency in the DRC: the president seized the Parliament

Félix Tshisekedi during his State of the Nation address in Kinshasa on December 13, 2019. REUTERS / Hereward Holland

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In the DRC, the President of the Republic officially seized the two chambers of Parliament on April 17 to extend the state of emergency which expires this week. The information was not revealed until Monday when Félix Tshisekedi signed a new ordinance which allows the two chambers of the Parliament to sit in spite of the measure prohibiting any gathering of more than 20 people during the epidemic of Covid-19.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,Ligodi patient

Tuesday April 14, Félix Tshisekedi brings together Jeannine Mabunda Lioko Mudiayi and Alexis Thambwe Mwamba , respectively President of the National Assembly and President of the Senate. Objective of the meeting: to avoid an institutional crisis which could be provoked by the diverging interpretations of the constitutional provisions having to regularize the state of emergency proclaimed by the president of the Republic to fight against the propagation of the new coronavirus.

Last Friday, reporting to members of the government, Félix Tshisekedi was delighted "  with the convergence of views that has emerged between himself and his interlocutors on the subject  ". On the same Friday, he therefore made the request for the extension of the state of emergency . But for him, the members of the two chambers of the Parliament should not meet in congress, but separately.

Last lock, the ban on any gathering of more than 20 people contained in its previous order. It is done, the order has been officially changed. Deputies and senators therefore have until April 23 to rule.

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  • Ground floor
  • Félix Tshisekedi
  • Coronavirus

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