Moïse Katumbi, second from right as governor of Katanga province in 2015. Now in exile.The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) marked 57 years of independence last Friday, but far from being the joyous occasion it should have been, DRC president Joseph Kabila cancelled the traditional independence day parade over “security concerns.” His decision occurred at a time when the DRC has reached boiling point, with Kabila increasingly clinging desperately to power in a country ravaged by deepening rifts and aggravating chaos. Just three years shy of the DRC’s diamond jubilee, all signs point to a state that is once again collapsing into civil war – but few in the west seem aware of Congo’s dismal state.
In power since 2001, Kabila has repeatedly rejected calls to step down following the end of his term in December 2016. The subsequent wave of protests was met with a relentless crackdown that led to the death of at least 40 people in Kinshasa and several other major cities. A fragile political deal reached with the fragmented opposition has broken down in recent months, and in a bid to secure his diminishing authority and calm the waters, Kabila named an expanded new government in May consisting mostly of members of the outgoing administration along with a sprinkle of opposition politicians. The new government is regarded with scepticism among the public, who doubt its ability to resolve the current impasse crippling the country.
With tensions reaching a critical point, Kabila now has a choice: hold a long-promised election this year or face the music. So far, the aspiring dictator seems to take his chances with the latter, fearing a democratic poll. Indeed, while Kabila has many reasons to be afraid, the “imminent return” of his archrival Moïse Katumbi must be on top of the list.
