DRC: C64 coalition rejects national dialogue proposed by Félix Tshisekedi

Félix Tshisekedi's Initiative

President Félix Tshisekedi recently responded to calls from both the opposition and major religious denominations in the Democratic Republic of Congo by agreeing to a national dialogue. This initiative was ostensibly aimed at addressing the persistent security crisis in the eastern part of the country and easing political tensions that have been escalating. However, in accepting the dialogue, Tshisekedi also established certain "red lines" and proposed a preliminary phase of nationwide consultations before the actual dialogue could commence.

This approach, while seemingly a concession to demands for dialogue, has been met with significant skepticism and outright rejection from key political actors. The president's decision to frame the dialogue with preconditions and a consultation phase has been interpreted by his critics as a strategic maneuver rather than a genuine effort to foster inclusive national consensus. The underlying suspicion is that these preliminary steps are designed to serve the incumbent's political agenda.

C64 Coalition's Rejection

The C64, the primary opposition coalition in the DRC, has vehemently rejected President Tshisekedi's proposed popular consultations, labeling them a "diversion." Following five hours of internal deliberation, the coalition articulated its unified stance, asserting that these consultations fail to address the urgent issues facing Congolese citizens, including the ongoing war, widespread insecurity, the health crisis, and profound social distress. The C64 argues that the government is deliberately substituting ineffective processes for a truly comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue.

The coalition's leaders have accused President Tshisekedi of being "cynically preoccupied" with extending his tenure beyond his second term, which is set to conclude in 2028. They allege that the ruling power is exploiting the conflict and suffering in the East as a pretext to create conditions for prolonging its stay in office. This strong opposition suggests a deep mistrust in the president's motives and a belief that his actions are aimed at consolidating power rather than resolving national crises.

Martin Fayulu's Stance

Martin Fayulu, a prominent figure within the C64 coalition, publicly articulated the opposition's firm rejection of the president's initiative. He emphasized that the Congolese people are not easily deceived by what he termed "yet another round of consultations" by Félix Tshisekedi. Fayulu underscored that these proposed consultations do not align with the immediate needs of the country, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict, pervasive insecurity, the health crisis, and the severe social hardship experienced by citizens.

Fayulu's statement highlighted the coalition's conviction that these consultations are a deliberate attempt to divert the nation's attention from its critical priorities. He further accused President Tshisekedi of being willing to "consolidate the balkanization of the country" to achieve his ambitions of remaining in power. In response to what it perceives as a dangerous political drift, the C64, under leaders like Fayulu, has called for a major national march on September 15 to mobilize the populace against the ruling camp's perceived maneuvers.