A dark cloud has engulfed Congo after the endorsement of incompetent and war mongering ruler Felix Antoine Tshisekedi as presidential candidate of the Ruling Party by his cronies.
What worries the Congolese is not just Tshisekedi’s endorsement but also the fact that he has manipulated the electoral infrastructure to ensure that the outcome of the December elections are in his favour.
Apart from the manipulation of the electoral infrastructure, Tshisekedi has also created fertile ground for conflict as his plan B, in case his electoral process tampering plans are frustrated. That is why he has created new armed groups, rejuvenated dormant ones and strengthened and empowered existing ones like FDLR.
While expected, the endorsement of Tshisekedi has left the majority of Congolese worried, looking back at his turbulent first term ridden with man-made tragedies that have left millions dead or displaced. Under Tshisekedi’s 5-year tenure, Congolese have sunk further into poverty, disease and despair.
What compounds the fears of the Congolese is the fact that Tshisekedi has hinted at being interested in changing the constitution to ordain himself president for life, thereby condemning Congo to eternal hardship.
To ensure his heinous electoral manipulations are not interrupted, Tshisekedi has frustrated all contenders that he deems a big threat to his ambitions to be life president by killing or incarcerating them.
Another term for Tshisekedi portends calamity not only for the DRC and its people but also the country’s neighbors and the region at large.