DRC: UNC supporters want to respond to appeal conviction of Vital Kamerhe
Vital Kamerhe (here in Kinshasa in December 2018).
REUTERS / Baz Ratner
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a vigil of arms for the lieutenants of Vital Kamerhe, the former chief of staff of President Félix Tshisekedi, sentenced on appeal to thirteen years in prison on Wednesday June 16 for the embezzlement of more than 50 million dollars, intended for the purchase of prefabricated social housing for the military and police.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Pascal Mulegwa.
Vital Kamerhe's party, the UNC, remains convinced that its leader,
sentenced at first instance
for a year, is the victim of a conspiracy and asks his deputies to boycott the work within the pro-Tshisekedi coalition, the
Sacred Union of the nation
.
At UNC headquarters, the hallways were congested all day.
Skirmishes controlled by the police.
But after a day of consultation, a step decision was taken by the parties.
“
We cannot sacrifice a leader like Vital Kamerhe for political calculation measures,
protests Billy Kambale, secretary general of the UNC
.
The UNC is determined to defend its leader to the cost of blood.
We ask our deputies to suspend their participation in the Cach and Sacred Union meetings until further notice.
Let our leader be freed
!
"
Dissension
The five ministers who are members of the party, the ten deputies and other executives in post in the institutions, such as the presidency, took part in the deliberations. According to party relatives, if they say they are irritated, leaving institutions is not yet on the agenda, despite pressure from activists. The UNC intends to continue internal discussions to obtain the acquittal of its leader: “
The discussions will continue because we want to cast a wide net. We do not want to give the enemy the opportunity to destroy our party. We are continuing the discussions to sensitize the most members and bring our troops together so that, when we make a decision, it is a decision consumed by
everybody.
We are a party born out of resistance.
For us, the main thing is that our
leader leaves this state of affairs.
"
The party is planning demonstrations across the country, demonstrations that are already in jeopardy.
Authorities have limited any gathering
to a maximum of 20 people due to the third wave of Covid-19.
► To read also:
DRC: Vital Kamerhe sentenced to 13 years in prison on appeal
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