In a context of political crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the head of the Senate, Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, announced his resignation on Friday, February 5.

With the departure of this close friend of former leader Joseph Kabila, President Félix Tshisekedi now has a free hand over all the country's political institutions. 

"Considering that trust no longer exists between a group of senators and myself (...), I submit to you my resignation as President of the Senate", wrote Mr. Thambwe Mwamba in a letter addressed to the provisional office set up on Thursday by a senior official to examine a motion of censure against him, signed by 64 senators out of a total of 109.  

This letter was read in plenary session by this provisional office which then "took note of the resignation". 

The largest country in sub-Saharan Africa with a turbulent political history, the DR Congo experienced its first peaceful transition to the top of the state on January 24, 2019, when former President Joseph Kabila handed over power to the former opponent Félix Tshisekedi.  

Proclaimed the winner of the controversial presidential election of December 2018, Mr. Tshisekedi ended the coalition agreement that linked him with the Common Front for Congo (FCC, majority in parliament) of Mr. Kabila last October. 

Former Minister of Justice, Mr. Thambwe Mwamba, several times minister, was the last close to Mr. Kabila to be at the head of a political institution.

President Tshisekedi succeeded in overthrowing in his favor the parliamentary majority which until recently had been acquired by his predecessor. 

Third personality of the country, the President of the Senate replaces the Head of State in case of impediment.

His resignation leaves the field open to President Tshisekedi to apply his reform policy supported by the United States and the European Union, based on the "fight against corruption". 

Kabila in his stronghold of Katanga

Tensions erupted in broad daylight at the top of the state after President Tshisekedi installed three constitutional judges appointed by him in July, against the advice of his former FCC allies.

Thursday, after the installation of the provisional office in the upper house, the senators members of the FCC denounced "dictatorial excesses" and called on Mr. Tshisekedi to put an end to it. 

This act "is the coup de grace struck at the institutions of the Republic, after the bringing to heel of the Constitutional Court, the overthrow of the office of the National Assembly and the deposition of the Prime Minister", commented the former Minister of Defense Tshikez Diemu, spokesperson for the senators of the FCC. 

In addition to a political offensive, Mr. Thambwe Mwamba has also been facing, for several days, legal attacks from the prosecution and the General Inspectorate of Finance on suspicion of "embezzlement of public funds".  

On Wednesday, a supporter of Mr. Tshisekedi, Christophe Mboso, 79, was elected president of the National Assembly, three weeks after his pro-Kabila official, Jeanine Mabunda, was ousted. 

Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba was forced to resign last week after a vote of no confidence against his government was passed in Parliament, where a majority of MPs left Kabila and pledged allegiance to Tshisekedi, like the vast majority of the political class. 

Mr. Kabila, 50 (in June), including 18 in power, is a "senator for life", a mandate given to him by the Constitution, as former elected president.

He has sat only once, on September 15, 2020, in one of his few public appearances since handing over power to President Tshisekedi.

He has retreated to his stronghold of Katanga since December.  

With AFP 

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