New DR Congo President Calls On United States To Support Country’s Transition To Democracy
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / President of Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi speaks at Council on Foreign Relations forum Washington D.C. April 4, 2019
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s newly-elected President Felix Tshisekedi invited the United States to support his country’s historic, peaceful change in power through a strong, strategic partnership. Tshisekedi was in the United States this week seeking to develop a strong relationship with America. The DR Congo president met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other senior officials in the Trump administration. Pompeo expressed support for President Tshisekedi’s change agenda focused on fighting corruption, strengthening governance, advancing human rights and accountability for human rights abuses and violations, promoting stability and security, and attracting American investment in the DRC. Tshisekedi was sworn in as the DR Congo’s President January 24, 2019. DRC Has Never Experienced Peaceful Transition Of Power Since It Gained Independence From Belgium In 1960.
“What happen on December. 30 2018, a miracle took place, it was a historic moment. This was an event that took place that allowed us to have a change of power, that was done in a peaceful manner. And something quite rare in Africa, allowed us to bring in a person from an opposing party…who came from party that was radically opposed to President in power, so this was a historic moment.”
DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi remarks at Council on Foreign Relations Washington D.C. Apr. 4, 2019.
Tshisekedi spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. Wednesday where he laid out his vision for a new DR Congo and called for a strategic partnership with the United States.
“I am here to ask our traditional partners including the United States, to help us and continue to support us, so we can make sure this fragile equilibrium become more solid, and allows the DRC to finally become a democratic republic, and to become a democracy, and to make the transition from the time where we had single party, and deputies took many risks to overthrow the dictatorial rule at the time , and to obtain in our country the foundation of of law and democracy.”
“Given that the US is a country that knows the DRC very well, and has been a partner even before colonization, I believe the US is an idea partner to help us to undertake this great adventure.”
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / DR Congo President Tshisekedi at CFR in Washington D.C. Apr. 4, 2019
VIDEO By Gary Raynaldo / DR Congo Président pendant la session de questions et réponses.
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / DR Congo President Tshisekedi with the CFR policy forum moderator Reuben E. Brigety, II Apr. 4, 2019 Washington D.C.
“My election has given us the opportunity to finally put into place the dream of our founding fathers. To finally see a country of democracy and to see democracy fully Implemented into my country.”
– President Tshisekedi
The newly-elected DRC President stated his country “will be making a clean break with everything that happened before I came to power, and with all problems at root of very destruction of Congo. My first measure, was to close down all jails and detention centers used by the political police, and officially with the intelligence service, (as I have been told that these were actually jails from the colonial legacy), from former regime, because for me there will no longer be any arbitrary arrests.”
Tshisekedi added:
“I have sanctioned all those who have been complicit in illegal activities, up until now , some of our managers of state owned companies, and ministries, have been punished for misconduct. Because the message I’m trying to send, I do not want to see any more corruption in our country any sort of illegal activities, bad government, and Especially impunity, which encourages those to continue in those kinds of things. Now DR Congo is standing up , trying to heal wounds, look to future, chase out all these demons.”
The DR Congo president stated, however, that it will take time to root out corruption and build a true democratic nation. “This system that we now have and is being changed, that was put in place… has been in place more than 20 years. And for 22 years, this regime has really taken root at the heart of the republic, and developed many tentacles. It will take some time to fully throw out the shackles of this former, dictatorial regime we had in place before. I am here to throw out the shackles of this dictatorial regime that was in place, because our country needs to enter the era of democracy in a new era that will help us move forward, and we have great potential to move forward as a democracy.”
ISLAMIST TERRORIST THREAT IN DR CONGO –
DR Congo President Tshisekedi particularly called on the U.S. to assist it in the country’s challenge in peace and security. “There is even an Islamist threat, and we fear, that with defeat of Isis in Syria and Iraq, that these terrorist groups would then try to deploy to Africa, which is really a soft spot for security in the world right now, and also a formidable source of natural resources that can be used to finance their terrorism activities. Therefore the DRC’s problems with security is no longer a DRC problem, but problem that has become international. So we can eradicate problem of terrorism. “
ON CORRUPTION IN DR CONGO:
“We know that some $US 15 Billion to $20 Billion that escape the public treasury each year. Billions that could do a lot of good in the DRC , especially with promoting the development of our population,” President Tshisekedi.
ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN DR CONGO:
“So the US , with its credibility and respect of its institutions could be a model and useful to us. So once we have re-organized , government, and judicial system, and a fully implemented rule of law, we will finally then be an attractive place for investors. We have huge potential that could be of great interest to the US. In terms of strategic reserve minerals. We have minerals, Uranium, you know how valuable Uranium is, that it can be used for both good and bad source, depending on what types of hands it falls We also have Cobalt , which is of course used in all sorts of modern technology. And for tomorrow’s technology. We have Aluminum , and Coltan. All of these high tech industries, with new technologies, these minerals are in great demand for these technologies. We have solar energies and a great deal of sun. we know that the US is on cutting edge of this technology , again contribution could be helpful in this.”
“We have Agriculture. The Congo has 80 million hectares of arable land, of which only 10 to 15 percent is being developed at the time. But if we are able to use better technology and use our land better, Congo is actually capable of feeding 2 billion humans.”
Tshisekedi also discussed with U.S. official ways to combat the Ebola outbreak in the country’s eastern region, which has killed more than 600 people.
Runner-up Candidate Martin Fayulu Disputes The Election Results
Credit: Wikipedia / Par Ezra Sierra © 2018 / DR Congo presidential candidate Martin Fayulu
Martin Fayulu insisting he won the election, and that his victory was stolen from him by fraud. Fayulu’s supporters contend Tshisekedi made a backdoor power-sharing deal with the ex-president Joseph Kabila.
“There are always electoral disputes, in the United States as well. No election is perfect. Mr. Fayulu was given an opportunity to present evidence that the election was not fair, and to prove that he was in fact the winner, and that the election was stolen, and his victory was stolen from him. But Fayulu never did this. Anyone contesting an election must bring proof. There has been no evidence provided yet,” Tshisekedi said.
