24/01/2019 – DR Congo experienced an inauguration on Thursday, the likes of which it has never seen. For the first time in the central African nation’s history, the Congolese witnessed a peaceful transition of presidential power.
Before a crowd of cheering supporters in the capital, Kinshasa, Tshisekedi, dressed in a blue suit and dark glasses, took the oath of office on Thursday.
In his inaugural address, Tshisekedi called for a “reconciled country”. As Kabila, the outgoing president looked on, the DR Congo’s new leader said, “We want to build a strong Congo, turned towards its development, in peace and security – a Congo for all in which everyone has a place.”
Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday met the newly elected President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi who is on a two-day visit to Kenya.
According to a statement sent to newsrooms by Mr. Odinga’s spokesperson, the ODM Party leader congratulated President Tshisekedi on his election and for the first peaceful transfer of power DRC in close to 60 years.
“He appealed to the President to bring his country together by embracing players from diverse backgrounds,” read the statement.
“He particularly appealed to the President not to allow cracks that could be exploited by foreign interests as happed in the first independence government.”
During their talks the two leaders explored ways and means of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Kenyatta assured his counterpart of Kenya’s commitment in helping the DRC achieve political stability saying that Kenya has learned valuable lessons from past political tensions, which the country is willing to share with the Great Lakes nation.
“Thank you for coming and we are looking forward to strengthening the partnership between our two countries for the benefit of our citizens,” said President Uhuru.
“We will continue to help you achieve peace and stability because we have had similar experience which we can share. Our country has been able to calm down political temperatures through the famous Building Bridges Initiative,” he continued.
«Toutes les deux parties ont la volonté et la détermination de promouvoir et de renforcer les liens d’amitié et de coopération entre les deux peuples», a déclaré l’ambassadeur Wang Tongqing, ajoutant que la Chine soutient la RDC sur sa voie de développement socio-économique ainsi que sa souveraineté et son intégrité territoriale.
THE unprecedented surrender of hundreds of militants and their leaders has raised a glimmer of hope that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could at last find peace.
The mass surrender is in support of the new administration under President Felix Tshisekedi.
No sooner had Tshisekedi pledged to uphold human rights and reconcile with other candidates in the December elections than some rebel leaders surrendered.
Il faut faire l’unité et se mettre au travail autour du nouveau président de la République, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. Il s’est exprimé ainsi en ces termes : « Ce n’est plus le moment de confiner le président Tshisekedi dans un carcan tribal ou politique.
C’est le président de tout le monde. Et, nous, acteurs politiques qui avons eu l’avantage de lutter avec lui, nous devons l’aider à éteindre ces querelles et éviter l’ivresse du lait.
Nous avons le devoir de l’accompagner, le devoir de créer la paix autour de lui. Je me suis vu dans l’obligation de tirer cette sonnette d’alarme avant qu’il ne soit trop tard et de faire comprendre aux uns et aux autres que l’heure n’est plus aux querelles, mais au travail », a dit le président du bureau provisoire de l’Assemblée nationale.