Its abundance of critical minerals encouraged outsiders to ignore election abuses but Congo s governance crisis holds up everything, Félix Tshisekedi s second presidential mandate is assured, and he has politically vanquished his domestic opposition after the 20 December elections. But his rhetoric on the campaign trail has made war more likely in the eastern provinces, at a time when the UN mission is leaving and his administration cannot stop the Teke-Yaka conflict nearer to Kinshasa in the west. Climate change makes life more dangerous for the Congolese – roads have also collapsed in recent weeks in Kananga, the capital of Kasai, because of heavy rain – but the President s attention is elsewhere.
For all the President s rhetoric and slick campaigning, many voters remember his failure to deliver on past promises, The campaigning season is careering towards election day on 20 December with Félix Tshisekedi expected to win another presidential term despite his meagre record in government. That said, Congolese electors take their duty seriously and could still choose to express their dissatisfaction on the chronic state of the economy, security and public services by voting against the status quo.
By bringing in two former adversaries, the President is shoring up regional alliances ahead of elections due this year, Former militia leader Jean-Pierre Bemba s surprise return to President Félix Tshisekedi s government as minister of defence and deputy prime minister is all about building an election-winning coalition but could create stability problems within the country and regionally.