DRC: draft law on the Congolese nationality of presidents brought to the National Assembly

The seat of the Congolese Parliament in Kinshasa (illustration). radiookapi.net

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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the bill proposed by the deputy of the majority, Nsingi Pululu, aimed at banning any citizen born of a foreign parent from access to the presidential office, was added among the subjects to be dealt with by the National Assembly between March and mid-June.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa

The project appeared to have been abandoned, after the Assembly rejected it in August 2021, but it was reintroduced by its initiator. The camp of the opponent Moïse Katumbi, declared candidate for the next presidential election, feels targeted.

Nsingi Pululu justifies his proposal by the need to protect the sovereignty of the State and to have leaders more loyal and loyal to the Republic.

The text is not limited only to the post of President of the Republic, it extends to the post of President of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Those of Prime Minister, sovereign ministries, provincial governor, attorney general, head of the intelligence service are also targeted. It will also be impossible to be elevated to the rank of senior officer of the army or police.

In front of the press, Friday, March 24, the lieutenants of Moïse Katumbi have vocifered against the presidential camp that he accuses of being at the base of this reform.

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This separatist, racist and xenophobic law is brandished only to separate communities, only to index, simply to sideline our brothers who have fair skin. They say it bluntly," said Francis Kalombo, a communicator with the Together for the Republic party.

Congolese NGO ACAJ called on all MPs to reject the reform, which it said is against the constitution and could lead to violence.

In a statement, this influential civil society organization was inspired by several countries of the world to demonstrate that "some of their leaders, with immigrant backgrounds, having acquired the nationality of the host country through one of their relatives, have served their States with dedication and patriotism.

A member of the Bureau of the National Assembly told RFI that there is little chance that this proposal will pass. "Above all," he tempered, "after criticism from all sides, even within the ruling coalition."

" READ ALSO DRC: the controversy over the nationality of Moïse Katumbi revived by a bill

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