Reply To: NORTH KIVU BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND WARS

[Congo]

The massacres perpetrated by the so-called militiamen Kamuina Nsapu in the Kasai space have prompted some Congolese to hide in forests far from their territory. At a time when the whole earth expresses its compassion for the “Bakasai”, Moses Katumbi and his group are calling for elections without them. Far from illustrating only the personality traits already recognized by the former governor of Katanga, namely his egocentric and prevaricating side, Moses Katumbi, navigating against the current, here exteriorizes his deeply anti-Kasaiian sentiment, a people From which he has despoiled property. Can we seriously argue, without the risk of bringing the country into troubles that could open the way to balkanization, that credible elections can be organized without serious preparation and excluding part of the population. Yet this is what the Katumbist wing of the Rally supports, in violation of the New Year’s Eve Agreement which provided for a tripartite meeting, Government, CNSA and CENI, to evaluate and take a decision in such a situation.

Do we know exactly what we are talking about when we talk about the word “democracy” all the time? Democracy is a political system based on a number of principles, among which the representation of the population plays a vital role alongside other values. These include separation and balance of power, respect for fundamental freedoms and, more recently, both practitioners and theorists are emphasizing participatory democracy, which gives an important place to local interests. It goes without saying that there are other values ​​which it is not appropriate to singularize within the framework of what we are discussing here.

All these values, which are important and even fundamental, are in fact supporting the main objective of this political system: representation.

In a democracy, authority is, of course, the leader, the leader. But unlike the other political systems, here leadership is primarily explained by this notion of representation. One is a conductor of a people only because one has been chosen by the latter. To be legitimate and to be able to establish a democracy acceptable to all, this choice must be carried out by methods that emphasize transparency and above all balance. Balance between the great opinions which cross the nation considered, but also, balance between the different regions or provinces which must be recognized in the elected and established authority.

Today the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a special situation. People who define themselves as democrats put in place strong media pressure to convince public opinion that it is possible, fair, democratic and even constitutional to organize credible elections without serious preparation and amputated representation. Moreover, these sorcerer’s apprentices claim that a President or an Assembly of National Deputies can be legitimate by being the result of an election that has excluded a large portion of the population.

It does not matter to this new breed of “democrats” that whole sections of the country are left out. It does not matter to these inconsistent democrats that entire provinces remain outside the national representation. The overwhelming thirst for power blinds them to the point that they are unaware of the fact that in the matter of elections any precipitation would be fatal and could bring the country into disturbances that could lead to what we fear most, : Balkanization.

The time has come to leave the reserve and say things in the clearest way. The approach of Sieur Moïse Katumbi and of the “G7”, knighted by the katumbist wing of the “Rassemblement”, reflects the personality of the man who proposes to the “candidacy for the Presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo” .

By driving his political group to demand elections without the Kasai, Moses Katumbi merely exteriorizes his regionalistic and tribalist sentiment, fundamentally anti-Kasaiian and constituting his political ideology.

The G7, a group that screams on all its rooftops for its commitment to democracy and the Constitution of 18 February 2006, ignores articles 12 and 13 of the Basic Law. It should be recalled, if need be, that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, any discrimination of any nature whatsoever and for any reason whatsoever is prohibited.

Congolese democracy, like all modern democracies, can not ignore the notion of representation, or even that of participation. Without these two notions, there is no democracy.

Congolese democracy, like all modern democracies, can not ignore the notion of representation, or even that of participation. Without these two notions, there is no democracy.

The hypothesis advanced by some compatriots that the “Kamwina Nsapu phenomenon” would be a manipulation of the G7 to oppose the Kasai people to the Kinshasa regime has long been questionable. Today, on examining the past of the former “Governor of Katanga” and considering his current hatred for wanting elections rushed, while the Great Kasai still has to dress his wounds, reorganize his administration sacked and allow To the CENI to unfold, we convince ourselves that profound feelings of hatred and contempt actually animate this man with respect to the “Bakasai”.

Will the people of Kasai fall into this trap?

For those who doubt the tribalism of the former Governor of Katanga, it is recommended that they read the statements of this person, as reported by Mr. Muyambo about a conflict concerning the “Mine of Mbola”, which then belonged to M Muamba Kabasele, which happens to be Kasaïen. As a reason for illegally extracting his property from him, the Governor had only one argument: “it is a Kasaiian”.

So, after despoiling the Kasaian property in Katanga, smashing their small businesses, manipulating some of their leaders to spread death and desolation on the lands of Kasai, the candidate for the Presidency of the Republic is organizing to exclude The “Bakasai” of the electoral process which it presents as democratic.

It is important that all the true democrats of this country become aware of the danger that this gentle-looking man really represents. Katumbi’s approach is tribalistic, ethnicist, while his objective is separatist, in favor of his Belgian liberal allies. He therefore does not need the Kasai electorate, since he does not wish to have to do with elected officials from this region.

Congolese nationalists need a united Congo in its 1960 configuration, as inherited from Patrice-Emery Lumumba. Congolese nationalists expect well-prepared elections involving all regions of the country. It is here that we must encourage those who truly love this country to organize themselves to oppose the tribalization of the country by excluding the electoral process from a very important part of the nation.