Wilfried AKILIMALI LINJANJA

Heureux mariage @NsikuJeremie

#RDC: 🚨🛑‼️Moussa Mondo quitte définitivement le PPRD de Joseph Kabila et devient Autorité morale de l'Alliance des Patriotes et Démocrates Musulmans (APDM), qui s’affiche désormais membre de l’union sacrée de Tshisekedi.

#DRC - President Tshisekedi asserted that his predecessor is not only a foreign national but specifically of Rwandan origin. The notion of citizenship remains a central obsession in political narratives in the DRC. It is an issue that has mobilised more attention than some of the country’s most serious scandals and has, in many ways, paralysed the nation for over sixty years. The persistent rhetoric surrounding who is perceived as citizen, who does not, and who may be considered “more” of a citizen than others continues to shape political discourse. From an external perspective, this debate is often viewed as regressive and primitive. It also reinforces long-standing colonial stereotypes propagated by scholars and novelists who portrayed the Congo as the “heart of darkness" or "savage". Ironically, there is, nonetheless, a troubling continuity based on in the ways some modern political practices in the DRC echo these colonial narratives. President Tshisekedi has labelled his predecessor as a foreign national. In a recent public debate, President Tshisekedi suggested that he has now discovered that his predecessor is a foreign national. His predecessor, Joseph Kabila, led the country for 18 years and also served as an army general in the DRC. Holding such positions would be contrary to the legal restrictions on foreign nationals, who are prohibited from occupying roles related to national security, defence, intelligence, and high-level government positions such as head of state. If such a situation were indeed the result of an oversight, acknowledging publicly it is itself a major political scandal. Joseph Kabila's father, Laurent Kabila, was his predecessor. Laurent Kabila is accepted as a Congolese and a national "hero". How can his son be considered a foreign national while his father is not? This phenomenon is not new. Rumours frequently circulate about African state leaders, alleging that they originate from outside their respective countries. Well-known examples include Kenneth Kaunda, the former President of Zambia, who was portrayed as Malawian; Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, who is described as Rwandan, Alassane Ouattara, he is rumoured to be from Burkina Faso. In the DRC, many leaders - from President Kasavubu to Mobutu himself - have at various times been labelled as foreigners or accused of having foreign origins, including being called “Rwandan,” or alleged to have foreign-born spouses. Moise Katumbe, a political opposition leader in the DRC was stigmatised as either Italian, Zambian or Jewish. Another political leader, Martin Fayulu, has been labelled as Senegale. President Tshisekedi further asserted that his predecessor is not only a foreign national but specifically of Rwandan origin. During Joseph Kabila’s presidency, the UDPS suggested that he was “Rwandan.” When Kabila handed over power to Tshisekedi, he was regarded as Congolese patriot. However, once he moved into opposition, he has again been portrayed as “Rwandan.” Why is this the case, and why is he never described as, for example, Tanzanian? Labelling someone as a foreign national in the DRC is a form of populist political rhetoric. It diverts attention from substantive issues and serves as a powerful political tool. In particular, labelling someone as “Rwandan” has become a form of political currency. During elections, candidates often compete to demonstrate the extent of their hostility and hate towards Rwanda or Rwandans. The more strongly a candidate expresses such sentiments, the greater their perceived chances of electoral success. By contrast, there is little political value in labelling someone as Tanzanian or Ugandan. Final reflection The perception of politicians as foreign nationals is linked to the idea that the “alien other” is inherently threatening and must therefore be firmly and proactively resisted. Political discourse in the DRC is often less about ideas, ideologies, or policy debates, and more about exclusionary narratives. Rather than engaging with substantive national issues, this discourse tends to rely on divisive rhetoric that frames political competition in terms of belonging and identity or tribalism. In this sense, it reflects a form of populist political culture that diverts public attention away from structural challenges and governance concerns.

My book has now been published by the Pretoria University Law Press, a day before my 34th birthday, and four years after I graduated from the University of Pretoria with my doctorate in comparative constitutional law. This book offers lawyers and (legal/constitutional) comparatists comparative insights into the way three (key) constitutional courts enhance the quality of human rights protection through interpretation. This birthday gift is open access (pulp.up.ac.za/catalogue/mono…). Download your copy and let’s engage (if you need to receive a printed copy for, say, your university library, do let me know).

#RDC: Urgent 🛑🚨‼️ 🔴URGENT | #RDC : @PLukwebo destitué par l’AFDC-A ! Otto Bahizi prend les rênes pour gérer la transition jusqu'au congrès.