Presidential election in DRC: candidate Delly Sesanga withdraws in favour of Moïse Katumbi

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), seventeen days before the general elections, opposition leader and candidate Delly Sesanga withdrew in favour of Moïse Katumbi, former governor of Katanga.

Opposition leader and candidate Delly Sesanga is withdrawing in favour of Moïse Katumbi, former governor of Katanga, for the December 20 presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo. © Pascal Mulegwa/RFI

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There were 26 candidates at the start, but only 22 remain, after 4 candidates, including former Prime Minister Matata Poyo, rallied behind Moïse Katumbi.

At a press conference on Sunday (December 3rd) in Kinshasa, Delly Sesanga justified his choice by optimising the chances in favour of the opposition to obtain the departure of Félix Tshisekedi, who is also a candidate for a second five-year term.

« This is to optimize the opposition's chances of having an alternative in this country. This is not a one-person choice. It is a choice based on a common project that we have developed through the synthesis of all our proposals. It is also about the possibility that there is, today, of putting together a camp, a coalition that can give a new perspective to this country, and the country needs it.

« Faced with the obvious failure of the outgoing regime of Mr. Tshisekedi, we need to go beyond each other to propose something different, and that is what we are doing. And these discussions must continue with all the others who think that there must necessarily be an alternative in this country.

« 

We are also going to ensure, by common agreement, the election monitoring, that the results of the ballot box, polling station by polling station, will be respected. The people must mobilize one day to save five years of their lives and so this is a necessary and republican sacrifice," said Delly Sesanga.

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At a press conference in Kinshasa, candidate Delly Sesanga announced that he was withdrawing in favour of Moïse Katumbi

Pascal Mulegwa

Read alsoElectoral campaign in the DRC: creation of four major national observer missions

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