Close to 44 million voters are expected to cast their ballot come
20th December 2023 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) general
elections. For many, this will be an important exercise because the aftermath
of it will set the tone on how the resource-abundant country will be governed for
the next five years.
In all, 24
presidential candidates have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (CENI) to contest in the election.
This article provides insights into the backgrounds of the main contenders in the forthcoming presidential election.
Félix
Tshisekedi
Félix
Tshisekedi, 60, is the current President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). His political journey began in 1985 in Brussels, Belgium, where he
actively participated in the Belgium wing of the Union for Democracy and Social
Progress (UDSP), the prominent political party in the DRC. Over the years,
Tshisekedi rose through the ranks, serving as the UDSP National Secretary for
external relations and eventually becoming its leader in 2018.
Following
the death of his father in 2018, Félix Tshisekedi was nominated by the UDSP to
run for President. He emerged victorious in the election, taking office in January
2019.
Critics have
particularly highlighted concerns about corruption within Felix Tshisekedi's
administration. The pervasive issue has led to criticism of the government's
handling of corruption-related matters, with calls for more decisive actions to
combat corruption and enhance transparency.
Another
point of criticism is the ongoing armed conflicts and security challenges,
especially in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Critics
argue that a more robust approach is needed to address these security issues
and bring stability to conflict-affected areas.
Tshisekedi
like other candidates, pledges to quell the raging violence in the east of the
mineral-rich country, introduce universal healthcare and create 6.4 million
jobs when voted into power.
Martin
Fayulu
Martin
Fayulu, 67, a former ExxonMobil executive entered politics in the 1990s. He is
the leader of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development Party. Despite
finishing second to President Félix Tshisekedi in the 2018 election, Fayulu
insists he won with over 62% of the vote and contested the results in court.
Fuelled by a
sense of injustice, Fayulu's current campaign for the Democratic Republic of
Congo's December 20 presidential election revolves around addressing what he
perceives as five years of corruption, incompetence, and insecurity under
Tshisekedi's leadership. Fayulu pledges to tackle widespread graft, strengthen
the army to combat insurgents causing a humanitarian crisis in the east and
enhance essential services like water, electricity, and healthcare.
Fayulu's presidential aspirations centre on presenting himself as a non-corrupt, skilled, and patriotic leader. However, the current political landscape is marked by disunity among opposition parties, with many favouring other candidates like Moise Katumbi. Despite international recognition, there are doubts about Fayulu's ability to secure a victory without a united opposition front.
Moise
Katumbi
Moise
Katumbi, 59, began his career as a businessman. He entered politics in the
1990s and gained prominence as the governor of Katanga from 2007 to 2015. His
leadership was marked by efforts to attract investment and foster economic
growth in the region.
Despite
being a former ally of President Joseph Kabila, Katumbi became a vocal critic
of the Kabila government. His opposition to Kabila's bid to extend his
presidency beyond constitutional limits led to a political fallout, prompting
Katumbi to leave the country in 2016.
In the
lead-up to the 2018 presidential election, Katumbi expressed his intention to
run for president. However, he was barred from returning to the country and
participating in the election.
Moise
Katumbi has filed his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election in
December 2023. He is running on a platform focused on restoring security,
creating jobs, and improving social services in the face of challenges such as
corruption and political repression.
Throughout
his political career, Katumbi has been an advocate for political change,
economic development, and improved governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Denis
Mukwege
Dr. Denis
Mukwege is a prominent figure in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) known
for his medical and humanitarian work, particularly in addressing sexual
violence in warfare. He is a surgical gynaecologist who gained international
recognition when he jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 with Yazidi
activist Nadia Murad. The prize was awarded for their efforts to combat the use
of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Dr Mukwege
founded the Panzi Hospital in eastern DRC in 1999 during a period of conflict.
The hospital has been instrumental in treating hundreds of victims of rape,
providing medical care, and bearing witness to the injuries and diseases
inflicted on them.
The renowned
gynaecologist has recently entered the political arena by announcing his
candidacy for the presidency of the DRC. He expressed his intention to focus on
issues such as insecurity and political leadership, addressing the
deteriorating security situation in the country, especially in the eastern
regions where various militia groups, including M23, are fighting for control.
The decision
to enter politics comes amid concerns about the handling of security issues and
political leadership in the DRC. President Tshisekedi has faced challenges in
containing violence during his first term, prompting Dr Mukwege to call for
far-reaching reforms in the country's security services.
Adolphe Muzito
Adolphe Muzito, 66, is an economist who served as Prime
Minister from 2008 to 2012 under former president Joseph Kabila.
Prior to becoming a Prime Minister, he served as the Minister
of Budget and also worked as an inspector of finance. Muzito is the leader of
the "Nouvel Elan" (New Momentum) party and was a former ally of
Martin Fayulu in the Lamuka coalition.
His campaign message for the 2023 election revolves around addressing economic challenges in DRC. Muzito promises to stabilize the national currency and implement a ten-year development agenda which will cost 300 billion USD to free the Congo from “external occupation and poverty”.
Other candidates
The
other candidates contesting in this year’s general elections include Tony
Bolamda, Jean-Claude Baende, Marie-Josée Ifoku, Enoch Ngila, Théodore Ngoy, Radjabho Tebabho Soborabo, Noël Tshiani, Constant Mutamba, Justin Mudekereza, Georges Buse Falay, Rex Kazadi, Abraham Ngalasi, Nkema Liloo Bokonzi, Floribert Anzuluni, Patrice Mwamba, André Masalu and Joëlle Bile.
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