2024-01-20 09:39:24
Widely re-elected last December, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, is sworn in on Saturday for a second term. Several tens of thousands of people and nearly twenty heads of state are expected by the authorities.
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He is taking the reins of this immense Central African country for the second time. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, largely victorious in the December elections described as a “sham” by the opposition, is sworn in on Saturday, January 20, for a new five-year term, in a political and security climate tense.
As for the launch of his electoral campaign, “Fatshi”, 60 years old, chose for his inauguration the Martyrs stadium, the largest venue in Kinshasa, with a capacity of 80,000 seats. The authorities are expecting some 18 heads of state.
In a post, the DR Congo presidency account published photos on X showing the public flocking to the stadium.
#RDC 20.01.2024|#Investiture
Since very early in the morning, the public has been flocking to the Stadium of the Martyrs of Pentecost, #Kinshasawhere the inauguration ceremony of President Félix Tshisekedi is held in a solemn public and fairground hearing of the Constitutional Court. pic.twitter.com/Y6WqmLzxuQ— RDC Presidency ???????? (@Presidence_RDC) January 20, 2024
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“Consolidate” the “achievements”
His first swearing-in, in January 2019, when he succeeded Joseph Kabila (2001-2018) following a very controversial election, took place in the gardens of the Palais de la Nation, a very solemn site where official ceremonies are generally held. .
Son of the historic opponent Étienne Tshisekedi, who died two years earlier, he then took the reins of the immense Central African country, rich in minerals but with a predominantly poor population, promising to improve the living conditions of the Congolese. and put an end to 25 years of armed violence in the East.
He did not achieve his objectives but campaigned, with considerable resources, on “the achievements” of his first mandate, such as free primary education, and asked voters to grant him a second mandate for ” consolidate”.
The presidential election took place at the same time as the legislative, provincial and local elections, a quadruple ballot which started as planned on December 20 but, faced with multiple logistical problems, was spread over several days.
In the end, during a single-round election and once morest around twenty other candidates, he achieved a triumph, with more than 73% of the votes.
Far behind came Moïse Katumbi, former governor of Katanga (south-east), with 18% of the vote, followed by the other opponent Martin Fayulu (around 5%). Dr Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work with women victims of war rape, officially received only 0.22% of the vote.
These opponents rejected these results and demanded the outright cancellation of the elections. A demonstration had been planned on December 27 but was banned by the authorities and nipped in the bud by the police.
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“Recover the territories”
Since then, accusations of fraud, cheating and other “electoral theft” have continued and fears of violence remain, in a country with a very turbulent political past.
On Thursday, three opponents, including Moïse Katumbi and Martin Fayulu, reiterated their call for the cancellation of the vote and asked the Congolese to demonstrate their discontent on Saturday, the day of the inauguration, wherever they are, as best they can.
The full results of the presidential election were announced on December 31 by the electoral commission (Céni) and confirmed on January 9 by the Constitutional Court.
In the meantime, the Ceni, itself recognizing fraud, acts of vandalism, intimidation and illegal use of voting machines, canceled the vote in two constituencies and for 82 candidates in the general elections, including three ministers.
On January 14, the CENI published the provisional results of the legislative elections which, while also provoking protests even in the presidential camp, drew a majority for the “Sacred Union” formed around Félix Tshisekedi.
These results are published as fighting in the east of the country, which saw a truce during the elections, rages once more between the army and the M23 rebellion, supported by neighboring Rwanda.
Since mid-December, a Southern African Community (SADC) force has been deployed in the region, succeeding an East African force dismissed by Kinshasa for alleged complacency towards rebels.
This week, a Congolese officer said he was counting on her to help DR Congo “recover the occupied territories”.
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