DRC: what is Felix Tshisekedi's room for maneuver to form his “sacred union”?

Joseph Kabila and Félix Tshisekedi side by side during the inauguration ceremony of the new Congolese president, in Kinshasa on January 24, 2019. REUTERS / Olivia Acland

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

On Friday evening, October 23, the Congolese head of state denounced the blocking of institutions and the ruling coalition formed with his predecessor Joseph Kabila.

To remedy this, he promised to organize consultations during the week to create a national union.

Since his speech, political groups and civil society organizations have continued internal discussions.

Publicity

Read more

With our special correspondent in Kinshasa, 

In the entourage of the Congolese head of state, the message is clear: no more question of having two pilots on the plane.

" 

 " adds a close friend of the president.

But today, what he must above all do is

particular to find a majority in the National Assembly, a majority that will allow it to implement its decisions.

On course for change, the presidential coalition has only 47 deputies out of an assembly of 500. For his part, Joseph Kabila again proved, during the swearing in of three constitutional judges appointed by President Tshisekedi, which he still controls a majority of deputies and senators and some officials of the security services who shunned the ceremony.

Today, Félix Tshisekedi can hope to obtain under certain conditions the support of part of the opposition and of certain executives of the FCC [Common Front for the Congo] who have already initiated a rapprochement.

But that will not be enough.

He will still have to convince a hundred additional deputies, debauched from the ranks of the FCC.

According to several testimonies from party leaders of the pro-Kabila coalition, there is discontent within it and meetings are increasing.

However, in the entourage of Joseph Kabila, it is assured that no one will be tempted by a leader who has broken all the agreements he has signed, Geneva, Nairobi and the one signed with Joseph Kabila, assures one of them. .

Scathing reply from an adviser to President Tshisekedi: there are agreements which one could say that it would be criminal not to end up denouncing them.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• DRC

• Felix Tshisekedi

• Joseph Kabila

On the same subject

DRC: FCC and Cach do not want to lose control of the political reform process

DRC: foundations to end political instability

DRC: speech to the Nation of Félix Tshisekedi against a background of tensions with his Prime Minister