TweetCongo News Agency - January 21, 2012
“Since taking the oath of office, I have been explaining to our brothers and sisters of the army and the police that their allegiance is not to one man but to the Congolese nation. If they supported Mr. Kabila, it is because Mr. Kabila was representing the Congo after being elected by the people in 2006. But, as we all know, that mandate ended on Dec. 6. And everyone also knows that I, Mr. Etienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba, was the one elected during the Nov. 28 presidential election. No Congolese doubts it. Thus, the army and the police, following the Constitution, must pay allegiance to the new president. It took time because you have to understand that they have obeyed to Mr. Kabila for 10 years. I had to explain to them that he is the cause of their current situation. I am glad to announce to you today that I have met an army and police acquired to change everywhere. Thus, I am glad to announce today that I am officially assuming my functions as the president of the republic. Next week, I will form my government, which will start governing the Congo in the interest and for the progress of the country.”
Asked to respond to Mr. Tshisekedi’s statement, Aubin Minaku, the secretary general of the Presidential Majority, a parliamentary grouping of parties supporting President Joseph Kabila, told Radio Okapi that "Frankly, I wanted to respond with silence but by respect for Radio Okapi I will react because it is a non-event."
“We are a country with a constitution. There is an elected president.” Arguing that Mr. Tshisekedi declared himself president even before the campaign, Mr. Minaku said that he found it pointless to continue to respond to his comments.
Mr. Tshisekedi has rejected the results published by the electoral commission and upheld by the Supreme Court declaring Mr. Kabila the winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election.
Excerpts from Radio Okapi article
Related articles
- • Kabila Is Open to Dialogue with Tshisekedi, Government Spokesman Says (February 22, 2012)
- • Kabila's Senior Advisor Katumba Mwanke Dies in Plane Crash (February 12, 2012)
- • Cardinal Monsengwo to Lead Annual Spiritual Exercises in the Vatican (February 11, 2012)
- • Kabila's Party Loses Seats in Parliament, Increasing Reliance on Allies (February 3, 2012)
- • Tshisekedi's Call for General Strike Largely Ignored (January 31, 2012)
- • Congolese Have Lost Confidence in the Electoral Commission, Catholic Bishops Say (January 13, 2012)
- • UDPS Denies 'Henious' Attack on Senate President (January 3, 2012)
- • Senate Chief Hospitalized in Paris After Attack (January 2, 2012)
- • Tshisekedi Stages Self-Inauguration at Home (December 23, 2011)
- • In Inauguration Speech, Kabila Vows to Speed Up Modernization (December 21, 2011)
- • Tshisekedi Says He Is President-Elect, Asks Security Forces to Arrest Kabila (December 18, 2011)
- • Tshisekedi Says He Won, Can He Prove It? (December 17, 2011)
- • Supreme Court Rules Joseph Kabila Won Presidential Election (December 16, 2011)
- • Supreme Court Hears Appeal on Presidential Election (December 15, 2011)
- • Cardinal Monsengwo Caught in a Lie after Challenging Election Results (December 14, 2011)
- • Presidential Election Results Not Truthful, Says Cardinal Monsengwo (December 13, 2011)
- • Tshisekedi Rejects Presidential Election Results, Calls for Calm (December 10, 2011)
- • Joseph Kabila Wins Presidential Election (December 9, 2011)
- • Presidential Election Results Delayed 48 Hours (December 6, 2011)
- • Catholic Church Calls for Calm as Elections Results Are Published (December 4, 2011)
- • Kabila Leads Partial Election Results (December 3, 2011)
- • Vital Kamerhe Denies Calling for Elections to Be Annuled (December 1, 2011)
- • Observers Hail Successful DR Congo Elections (December 1, 2011)
- • Digging for the Perfect Elections in DR Congo (November 30, 2011)
- • Vote Counting Underway after Mostly Peaceful Elections (November 29, 2011)
- • Congolese Start Voting in Landmark Elections (November 28, 2011)
- • 32 Million Congolese Voters Set to Elect Their Leaders (November 27, 2011)
- • Officials Cancel Final Campaign Rallies in Kinshasa after Clashes (November 26, 2011)
- • Candidates to Make Last Stand in Kinshasa before Monday's Election (November 26, 2011)
- • Kabila Mocks Tshisekedi, Says He Is Still President (November 26, 2011)
