On this third day of consultations, Félix Tshisekedi met with Jean-Pierre Bemba, former Vice President, President of the MLC and former Opposition Fellow of the Congolese Head of State. He is the first political person to be received. President Tshisekedi is looking for a new majority to overthrow his predecessor, Joseph Kabila.
With our special correspondent in Kinshasa,Sonia Rolley
Jean-Pierre Bemba arrived in the early afternoon from Gemena, his stronghold in the province of Sud-Ubangi, where the opponent has been staying for several months. He is said to settle his family affairs and put his party in order. It is therefore his first political outing since mid-July, and here he is received by President Tshisekedi. The interview lasted almost two hours. “It went well, I am for any dialogue between the Congolese,” contented himself with declaring the opponent before claiming he had to take his plane back.
In his entourage, it is assured that he was there to listen, to know what the head of state had to say, and that there will undoubtedly be no quick decision until Felix Tshisekedi himself delivers his conclusions publicly at the end of the consultations. Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba is leading a parliamentary group of 28 deputies, while the presidential coalition, Cach, has been elected to 48. To date, another opponent will be announced on Friday. This is the former governor Moïse Katumbi from the platform Ensemble pour la République, which has almost 68 deputies.
The three men had traveled on difficult terms just before the 2018 election. In Geneva, in November, Félix Tshisekedi slammed the door of the opposition coalition Lamuka to create Cach with Vital Kamerhe. Jean-Pierre Bemba and Moïse Katumbi challenged President Tshisekedi’s victory in the election and supported Martin Fayulu as the elected president. But since then, the two men have returned to the country, and tensions have arisen between the leaders of Lamuka between Jean-Pierre Bemba and Moise Katumbi on the one hand, who agree to recognize the institutions and those who, like Martin Fayulu and Adolphe, Muzito, suffice it for the moment.
Journalists arrested
On the sidelines of these consultations, two journalists were arrested. The two colleagues are still being held at the National Intelligence Agency, a security service that reports to the presidency. Roublin Bamba and Ordynolas Mobala from the Bosolo Na Politique website filmed the president’s arrival on Monday with Cardinal Monsengwo. They are accused of sending out an excerpt that created controversy because several advisers to the president did not get up and continued to discuss when he arrived.
Tuesday, mens journalists’ defense organizations, the national union of the Congolese press and journalists in danger, was received by the head of state, colleagues were taken on board from the presidency for questioning. Since then, the legislature has promised their next release, but their publication director has no further news. JED and journalists without borders demand release. As a reminder, the JED condemned an increase in press rights violations this year: 116 against 85 last year when President Tshisekedi came to power.
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