Select Page

Congolese citizens today are delighted with the first ever peaceful transition of power in the country, because several key factors have come into play for many years, with political actors playing their part. an undeniable role. This is what Mr. Carmel Placide Kanza, Expert in communication strategy, says through a brief chronology sequenced in six categories that presents, in a simple way, the times and true heroes who, at the cost of a thousand risks, have worked for the advent of peaceful democratic alternation without which the current President of the Republic, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, would never have been invested, January 24, 2019. In order of categories, as aligned by Mr. Kanza, there is, among others, the Congolese people who took his destiny in hand, being on all fronts of the struggle. Then comes the dynamics of the opposition, formulating 2014, 2015, 2016. It consisted of Vital Kamerhe, José Makila, Jean-Lucien Bussa, Samy Badibanga, Delly Sessanga, Ingele Ifoto, MLC Eve Bazaïba, Martin Fayulu, Franck Djongo, to name but a few. The latter, confirmed by recent history, resisted, especially against the constitutional revision, the third term of Joseph Kabila and said a big YES in favour of alternation.

In his census, Carmel Placide Kanza does not forget the leaders of this fringe of the opposition who mobilised the population in the march organised simultaneously on the avenues of the Liberation, ex. 24 November and Oil mills to demand the holding of elections within constitutional deadlines.

Carmel Placide Kanza

However, in 2016, when the convening of the polls became uncertain, the only way for peaceful exit was through dialogue. Some leaders of the opposition and UDPS dynamic responded to the call of Edem Kodjo.

At the time, Jean-Lucien Bussa of the CDER led the opposition delegation to the preparatory committee and it was the latter who laid the foundations of the dialogue of the City of the African Union, but also several other protagonists.

Subsequently, the latter will tear off the principle of alternation and leadership of the government by the political opposition signatory of the agreement of 18 October.

Then, on October 18, 2016, Samy Badibanga will be appointed prime minister and begin executing the election agenda. It was at the end of the discussions of the Interdiocesan Center that the basis of the National Union Government was laid with the precise mission of organising the elections. In the fifth category, it is shown that it was the Government of the Republic headed by Bruno Tshibala who respected his mission by organising the elections, in accordance with the agenda of the New Year’s Eve Agreement, as concluded under the auspices of the Bishops.

This, before closing with Joseph Kabila who, according to this reflection, favoured the passage smoothly and with elegance, from the torch to the new President of the Republic elected, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, during his investiture, January 24, 2019.

CHRONICLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN THE DRC

In any civilisation, revolution or struggle for the safeguarding of republican and democratic values, there are always men and women who brave the risk of their lives the political systems not favourable to democracy. In Africa, the cases are legion. However, it is worth saying that the DRC made the difference through these worthy girls and sons determined to remain with the people for the civilised democratic conquest, completed in late 2018.

Question: who are the Heroes of this conquest of the democratic alternation of December 30, 2018 carried out without gunshot or bloodbath?

The answer is clear: we can find these Heroes in 6 categories below:

First category: the Congolese people themselves, who had taken their destiny into their own hands, always answering the various calls of the opposition political leaders of the time to defeat the anti-constitutional plan of the past regime.

Second category: the dynamics of the opposition formula 2014, 2015, 2016. It consisted of the president Vital Kamerhe of the UNC, president José Makila of the ATD, president Jean-Lucien Bussa of the CDER, Samy Badibanga, Delly Sessanga of Envol, Ingele IFOTO of DDC, Eve Bazaïba of MLC, Martin Fayulu of Ecidé, Franck Djongo of MLP, Lisanga Bonganga, Clement Kanku, Jean-Bertrand Ewanga, Claudel Lubaya, Fidel Babala, Me Mayo, Gabriel Mokia , to quote only those.

Their credo was summed up in this: no to the constitutional revision – no to the 3rd mandate and – yes to the alternation.

The movement of popular protests launched by the above-mentioned leaders in 2015 was a strong signal against the revisionists and says a lot about the next events.

Third category: the dynamics of the opposition reinforced by the UDPS and the entry of the G7 on the popular front concretized by the movement of the protests of May 26, 2016 where all the tenors were present. On this occasion, we saw the leaders of the opposition lead side by side the population in the march organised simultaneously on avenues of November 24 and oil mills. Which march is repressed in the blood.

The presence of the current President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshilombo, Vital Kamerhe, Samy Badibanga, CDER Jean-Lucien Bussa, Eve Bazaïba, Jean-Claude Vuemba, Franck Diongo, Mayo, Delly Sessanga, José makila , Claudel Lubaya, Ewanga, Paul Kapika, Dr. Matusila, Pierre Lumbi, Gabriel Mokia, Fidel Tingombayi, Joseph Olenghankoy, Fabien Mutond, Clement Kanku and others …

Fourth category: after the march of 26 May 2016, the convocation of the ballot in September 2016 becomes hypothetical and the only voice of peaceful exit remains the dialogue; with a political compromise on the electoral calendar for the effective holding of elections with a view to alternation. Some actors decide to go to the political dialogue initially agreed between the UDPS and the presidential majority but undermined by misunderstandings between the same political groups.

Whatever that may be, some leaders of the opposition dynamic and the Udps (parliamentary opp) responded to the call of Prime Minister Edem KODJO. We can quote Jean-Lucien Bussa from the CDER who led the opposition delegation to the preparatory committee and laid the groundwork for the dialogue of the city of the African Union. This delegation included opposition leaders who truncated their credibility against the search for a political solution to achieve alternation. These are Samy Badibanga, Jose Makila, Jean-Lucien Bussa, Steve Mbikayi, Fidel Tingombayi, Dr. Matusila and the others.

These leaders will tear off the principle of alternation and the direction of the government by the political opposition signatory of the agreement of 18 October. Samy Badibanga will be appointed prime minister and begin executing the elections agenda (disbursement of funds).

Although dialogue is convened, it is worth mentioning those who have made their choices and options with regard to hostile opinions. They are Vital Kamerhe opposition leader, José Makila, Jean-Lucien Bussa, Jean-Bertrand Ewanga, Steve Mbikayi, Fidel Tingombayi, Papy Mantezolo, Bitakwira. After many divergences between political actors, CENCO comes back to the charge and convenes the assizes.

The Rally, headed by Felix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, Martin Fayulu, Olivier Kamitatu, Lisanga Bonganga, Olenghankoy, Eve Bazaiba from the FRC (Front for the Respect of the Constitution), Fidel Babala, Jacques Lungwana and the opposition side of October 18, Vital Kamerhe, Jean-Lucien Bussa, Jose Makila, Ruberwa Azarias, and Steve Mbikayi. It should be said that it was at the end of the discussions of the inter-diocesan centre that the basis of the National Union government was posed with a specific mission: to organise the elections.

The fifth category: it is the Government of the Republic headed by Bruno Tshibala who kept to his mission by organising the elections in accordance with the agenda of the New Year’s Eve Agreement.

The sixth category is the former President of the Republic Joseph Kabila who, against all odds, with his majority respected the agreement of Saint-sylvestre and thwarting the predictions of a third term. Joseph Kabila favoured the passage smoothly and elegance the torch to the new President of the Republic elected. He played a remarkable role.

In view of this brief chronology, the Congolese people must recognise in these personalities cited above the merit of having worked in favor of alternation without bloodshed or gunshot. Love them or not, they are heroes who deserve the honours of the entire Republic. Other actors such as Jean-Pierre Bemba and Katumbi also played a role in influencing public opinion.

Give honour where honour is due.

Long live democratic alternation in the DRC

Carmel Placide Kanza

Congo