DRC: Vital Kamerhe back in Kinshasa after 4 months of absence

Vital Kamerhe was in France for medical reasons.

(illustrative image) AFP/File

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Vital Kamerhe has been back in Kinshasa since Monday morning after four months of medical stay in France.

On bail since December 6, 2021, the former chief of staff of President Félix Tshisekedi returns to the DRC in a context marked by the cancellation of the judgment of the Court of Appeal having sentenced him to 13 years in prison for embezzlement of public funds.

His lawyers are preparing his defense before new judges.

Vital Kamerhe returns to Kinshasa, also aware of the political issues of the day.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

Three o'clock in the morning, a private jet lands on the tarmac of Ndjili International Airport.

Three passengers on board: Vital Kamerhe, his wife Hamida Chatur and his personal assistant Michel Moto.

A very discreet return, like the posture adopted by the former right arm of Félix Tshisekedi for a few months.

Vital Kamerhe is not cured, but relieved, qualify his relatives.

They describe all the same a man in form and already capable of taking over the daily management of his party, pending the outcome of his trial.

If media releases are not planned in the coming weeks, Vital Kamerhe will be active and will remain in Kinshasa, while keeping an eye on the management of his party, the Union for the Congolese Nation, the UNC.

Moreover, its young secretary general, Billy Kambale, who was in charge of revitalizing the party and maintaining political pressure for the release of the former president of the National Assembly, will hand over the baton of command of the A C.

This return is decisive for Vital Kamerhe whose party has improved its relations with Felix Tshisekedi in recent days.

Also determining one year from the electoral deadlines in a context of redistribution of the cards on the Congolese political scene.

But before 2023, there is already a first test next May.

The UNC will try to win the election of governors in the province of Kongo central.

The former right-hand man of the current president had been sentenced at first instance in April 2020

of nearly 50 million allocated dollars.

An amount that was allocated to the construction of prefabricated houses for soldiers and police.

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