DRC presidential election: Matata Ponyo withdraws in favour of Moïse Katumbi and invites other candidates to follow suit
The former Prime Minister (2012-2016) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Augustin Matata Ponyo, one of the opposition candidates in the presidential election of December 20, 2023, announced on November 19 his withdrawal in favor of Moïse Katumbi. "I invite [...] all presidential candidates who are concerned about the future of the DRC and its people to join Moïse Katumbi Chapwe," he said.
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The former Prime Minister of the DRC, Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon, during the presentation of his political and social project for the 2023 Presidential election, on August 2 in Kindu (illustration image). © Pascal Mulegwa/RFI
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while the electoral campaign was launched on November 19, former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo, one of the opposition candidates in the December 20, 2023 presidential election, announced on Sunday his withdrawal in favor of Moïse Katumbi.
The announcement follows discussions held in Pretoria, South Africa, last week between emissaries of five opposition candidates – Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, Denis Mukwege, Augustin Matata Ponyo and Delly Sesanga – four of whom reached an agreement.
Read alsoGeneral elections in DRC: Félix Tshisekedi kicks off his campaign with a big rally in Kinshasa
Matata Ponyo made his announcement in a nearly 6-minute message posted on his Facebook page in which he explained the reasons for his choice.
The presidential election on 20th December will be played out over a single round. Augustin Matata Ponyo therefore highlighted the agreement that has just been signed by the emissaries of four of the five opposition leaders, who discussed for five days in South Africa with a view to arriving at a single candidacy against outgoing President Félix Tshisekedi. But the unsuccessful candidate of the last presidential election, Martin Fayulu, did not adhere to this agreement.
« Forming a strong and united bloc within the opposition is the only strategy »
The former prime minister is therefore calling on the two other candidates concerned, Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege and MP Delly Sesanga, as well as "other candidates concerned about the future of the DRC", to follow suit.
Matata Ponyo insists: "In the face of the massive electoral fraud planned, but also in the face of the world that is watching us, the approach of forming a solid and united bloc within the opposition is the only strategy we have to give meaning to our political struggle and to give hope to the Congolese people. Thus, I invite the other two participants in the Pretoria proceedings, as well as all the presidential candidates who are concerned about the future of the DRC and its people, to join Moïse Katumbi Chapwe in ensuring a certain victory in the elections on 20 December.
»For the moment, 25 candidates remain in the race for the presidential election scheduled in a month to the day, an election coupled with legislative, provincial and municipal elections.
Moise Katumbi praised this decision by Augustin Matata Ponyo, whom he described as "competent, credible and rigorous in management". Saluting his humility and the "priority he gives to the interest of the people".
Read alsoDRC: Voters divided at the beginning of presidential, legislative and provincial campaigns
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