Consultations in the DRC: the opponent Jean-Pierre Bemba, first party leader received

The Congolese opponent, Jean-Pierre Bemba, at the end of his meeting with President Félix Tshisekedi, November 4, 2020, Kinshasa.

RFI / Sonia Rolley

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

On this third day of consultations, Félix Tshisekedi met with Jean-Pierre Bemba, former vice-president, president of the MLC and former opposition colleague of the Congolese head of state.

He is the first political figure to be received.

President Tshisekedi is looking for a new majority to shed the influence of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila.

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With our special correspondent in Kinshasa

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Jean-Pierre Bemba arrived at the start of the afternoon, from Gemena, his stronghold in the province of Sud-Ubangi where the opponent has been staying for several months.

He was said to be settling his family affairs and putting his party in order.

It is therefore his first political outing since mid-July and he is received by President Tshisekedi.

The interview lasted nearly two hours.

" 

 " contented himself with declaring the opponent, before asserting that he had to

.

In his entourage, it is assured that he was there to listen, to know what the Head of State had to say and that there will undoubtedly be no hasty decision, before Felix Tshisekedi himself delivers his conclusions publicly

.

Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba is at the head of a parliamentary group of 28 deputies, while the presidential coalition, Cach, has to date 48 elected.

Another opponent is announced on Friday.

This is the former governor Moïse Katumbi of the platform Together for the Republic which has nearly 68 deputies.

The three men had left on difficult terms just before the 2018 elections. In Geneva, in November, Félix Tshisekedi slammed the door of the opposition coalition Lamuka to create Cach with Vital Kamerhe.

Jean-Pierre Bemba and Moïse Katumbi had contested the victory of President Tshisekedi in the elections and supported Martin Fayulu as the elected president.

But since then, the two men have returned to the country and tensions have arisen between the leaders of Lamuka, between Jean-Pierre Bemba and Moise Katumbi on the one hand who agree to recognize the institutions and those who, like Martin Fayulu and Adolphe Muzito, refuse it for the moment.

Journalists arrested

On the sidelines of these consultations, two journalists were arrested.

The two colleagues are still being held at the National Intelligence Agency, a security service that reports to the presidency.

Roublin Bamba and Ordynolas Mobala, from the Bosolo Na Politique website, filmed the arrival of the president on Monday with Cardinal Monsengwo.

They are accused of having broadcast an extract that created controversy, because several advisers to the president did not stand up and continued to discuss when he arrived.

On Tuesday, while

, the National Union of the Congolese Press and Journalists in Danger, were received by the Head of State, colleagues were taken from the presidency for questioning.

Since then, the presidency has promised their next release, but their publication director has no news.

JED and Reporters Without Borders demand their release.

As a reminder, JED denounced an increase in violations of press rights this year: 116 against 85 last year when President Tshisekedi came to power.

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• DRC

• Felix Tshisekedi

• Jean-Pierre Bemba

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