DR Congo : Katumbi and Fayulu United In Fight Against Constitutional Amendments

By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman

Moïse Katumbi and Martin Mayulu, two major political opponents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and unsuccessful candidates in the 2023 presidential elections, have just created a common front to combat the plan to revise or change the constitution, a project initiated by President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.

The two opponents met for more than 30 minutes on December 07, 2024 in Genval (Belgium).In a video widely shared across social networks, notably on X (formerly Tweeter) and Facebook, Prince Epenge, one of the political players close to Martin Fayulu, asserted that the Genval meeting is a union that goes beyond political interests, and is about patriotism.

“What needs to be changed is Félix Tshisekedi. It's not the constitution. What needs to be changed is the social situation of the Congolese people, the pitiful salaries of men in uniform, doctors and teachers,” insisted Mr. Epenge in the video.

He also called on young people, women and the entire Congolese population to get behind these two political leaders and unite as one to “save the DRC”.

Indeed, Genval represents a powerful symbol for the Congolese opposition, since it was there in 2016 that they came together to form their anti-Joseph Kabila “Rassemblement”, the president at the time, in order to demand his departure.

“As we did against Kabila, we're going to do it against Tshisekedi”, declared Martin Fayulu.

Nevertheless, their discussions eventually enabled them to turn the page on the dissensions that had emerged during the 2023 elections. In particular, they agreed to draw up a joint action plan to counter any plans to change the Constitution.