The Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates 60 years of independence today. Although there is not much reason to celebrate. The country is sinking into political chaos, the violence in eastern Congo continues, and on top of that comes the corona crisis.
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The Congolese government has decided to have the commemoration run in “meditation” on Tuesday. This means that there are no festivities, so King Philip does not go to our former colony either. Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès had received a verbal invitation to our king in the spring. His father Albert II went to Congo ten years ago to celebrate 50 years of independence. Conditions are different now.
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Observers believe that current President Félix Tshisekedi is trapped in the straitjacket of his predecessor Joseph Kabila, who is still pulling the strings with his entourage. And that has its political consequences. There is currently a lot of debate in parliament about a bill that, according to ambassadors of many foreign powers, would jeopardize the independence of magistrates.
In addition, the leadership of the independent election committee Céni needs to be renewed. The ambassadors of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom insist that this replacement be made “credible and inclusive” with a view to “creating confidence in the election process”. Elections will be held again in Congo in 2023. According to many observers, the electoral committee dances after the pipes of the clan-Kabila.
“Deeply corrupt politics”
On the website Free Africa a Congolese student in the United States, Bibiche Bolobiongo, recently criticized the institutional crisis in her country. It lashes out at a “deeply corrupt” political class and hand-and-span services from the international community at the expense of the Congolese people. Bolobiongo once again points out that Congo has one of the poorest populations in the world, while the country is nevertheless very rich in raw materials.
“The Congolese population has no access to adequate health care. The education system is completely in ruins. The population has no drinkable water, and there is no solid basic infrastructure. In short, the misery is indescribable, ”it says. She also believes that since President Tshisekedi took office, the different levels of power have been staging a “theater of bad taste” to divert people’s attention.
Cholera, ebola, corona
In addition to the political crisis, there is the corona crisis that also affects Congo, makes itself felt in the economy, and turns the daily life of the inhabitants upside down. A population that has not been spared in health in recent years, with measles outbreaks, cholera and, last but not least, Ebola.
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In addition, violence continues in eastern Congo, with dozens of armed groups sowing death and destruction in the two Kivus and Ituri, and criminal networks shamelessly exploiting mineral resources. The insecurity in the region is causing more than 5 million internally displaced persons and more than 500,000 refugees.
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