An internal war is set to erupt in Democratic Republic of Congo as President Félix Tshisekedi has ended the 16-month coalition with former president Joseph Kabila.
Local reports have it that in a speech in French and in the four national languages of the country, PresidentTshisekedi, without expressly pronouncing the falling-out, said that according to the aspiration of “the great majority of Congolese” whom he consulted, the FCC-CACH coalition was singled out almost unanimously.
“I noted the need to end the CACH-FCC Coalition Agreement, seen as the main reason behind the current blockage,” he said.
PresidentTshisekedi enumerated several other reforms to be carried out at the level of the economy, politics and security, the reform of the army and the electoral law.
He said: “So to make the envisaged reforms effective and concrete, the current parliamentary majority having crumbled, a new majority is necessary. Consequently, I have decided to appoint an informant, in accordance with the provisions of Article 78, paragraph 2 of the Constitution. He will be responsible for identifying a new coalition bringing together the absolute majority of members in the National Assembly. It is with this new coalition that the government, which will be put in place as quickly as possible, will conduct its action during the remainder of the quinquennium, according to my vision, in order to meet the aspirations of the people.”
Also, Tshisekedi threatened to dissolve the national assembly in case he does not get the parliamentary majority he seeks to take control of the government.
The president, who according to the constitution cannot dismiss the prime minister, will now seek to obtain the resignation of Sylvestre Ilunga, who is a member of the opposition, led by Kabila.
In a swift reaction, Néhémie Mwilanya, the coordinator of Kabila’s Common Front for Congo (FCC) said the party rejects the President’s announcements.
Analysts are of the view that the struggle to shift the parliamentary majority in the national assembly from Kabila’s camp to that of Tshisekedi, risks plunging the country into chaos.
