Moïse Katumbi, a wealthy businessman and former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province, is one of the leading contenders for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the upcoming elections on 20 December.
The 58-year-old, who also owns the popular football club TP Mazembe, has been campaigning across the vast nation in a private jet, promising to improve infrastructure, education, security, and the economy.
He faces a tough challenge from the incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi, who came to power in 2018 after a disputed election that another opposition leader, Martin Fayulu, claims he won.
Mr. Tshisekedi, the son of the late veteran opposition figure Etienne Tshisekedi, has improved his image abroad and pledged to fight corruption and bring peace to the east of the country, where dozens of armed groups have been wreaking havoc for decades.
But he has also faced criticism for his alliance with former President Joseph Kabila, who still wields considerable influence in the parliament and the security forces.
Mr Kabila, who ruled the DRC for 18 years, was barred by the constitution from seeking a third term in 2018, but many suspect he may try to make a comeback in 2023.
Another candidate who could pose a threat to Mr Katumbi is Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been treating women victims of sexual violence in the eastern city of Bukavu.
Dr Mukwege, 68, has no political base but enjoys a lot of respect and admiration for his humanitarian work and his advocacy for justice and human rights.
He has also been vocal about the need for electoral reforms and the protection of the environment, especially in the mining sector, which is the main source of revenue for the DRC.
The DRC is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources, but also one of the poorest and most unstable.
It has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
The 2023 elections are seen as a crucial test for the country’s fragile democracy and a potential opportunity for a new beginning.
The polls will be held under a new constitution that was adopted in 2021 after a national dialogue that involved various political and social actors.
The new constitution reduces the presidential term from five to four years, limits the number of terms to two, and introduces a two-round system for the presidential election.
It also creates a bicameral parliament, with a Senate and a National Assembly, and devolves more powers to the 26 provinces.
The electoral commission has said it is ready to organize the elections, which will also include legislative, provincial, and municipal polls, despite the challenges posed by the size and diversity of the country, the lack of infrastructure, and the insecurity in some areas.
The international community, especially the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, has pledged to support the electoral process and to ensure that it is free, fair, and credible.
The DRC’s 80 million people are hoping that the elections will mark a turning point in their history and usher in a new era of peace, development, and democracy.
Source: BBC
