After the Prime Minister and the King of the Belgians, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi met this Tuesday, September 17, the Belgian employers at the headquarters of the Federation of companies

The new Congolese head of state has decided for the first time since his arrival in Brussels to speak publicly before these business leaders and it has sold out.

In his speech to the Belgian employers, Felix Tshisekedi drew up an uncompromising assessment of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), such as the lack of electricity, infrastructure and skilled labor. But also endemic corruption: 80% of state revenue does not reach the Treasury. 

However, the Congolese president asks Belgian business leaders to trust him.

"I would like to emphasize here that the Congo of today is a new Congo, and this Congo expects from Belgium an accompaniment," he said. Make sure you stay on the side, watching us, you also miss opportunities. "

Belgian entrepreneurs suffered bad relations between Belgium and Congo under the Kabila presidency. The arrival of Felix Tshisekedi in power is a boon for them, hence the enthusiasm for this meeting. Guy de Selliers, boss of the company HCF, is seduced.

"Everyone tells him. Corruption, he knows, has been so prevalent in this country for so long that it is not easy to eradicate it overnight, he says. But he seems to me quite determined to do it. I told him about a very important project. He understands right away. "

Belgian business leaders were also numerous because the meeting offered them the possibility of direct access to the Head of State. Felix Tshisekedi received them for more than two hours one after the other in person to listen to their proposals.

For his fourth day visiting Belgium, Felix Tshisekedi meets the President of the Commission of the European Union, the outgoing Jean-Claude Juncker. Relations between the EU and its predecessor, Joseph Kabila, had strained considerably at the end of his second and last term. The representative of the European Union in Kinshasa had even been expelled. There is no longer any direct budget support. 

However, it is with the same Joseph Kabila that Felix Tshisekedi is today in coalition. But if he wants to keep his promises, the new Congolese president needs the support of his European partner.

The Congolese president told the Belgian entrepreneurs, he hopes that Belgium will serve as a gateway to resume cooperation with the European Union. 

Before being declared the winner, the candidate Felix Tshisekedi was offended on the social networks of the expulsion of the ambassador of the European Union in the middle of the electoral process. He promised to remind him of his " next election " and to reopen the "Schengen House". It remains to this day the last message on his twitter account.

Even if the "Schengen House" has changed its name, concession made to the camp of his partner, Joseph Kabila. As for the first promise, last August, Ambassador Bart Ouvry was only allowed to return to the Congo to say goodbye, being appointed in Mali.

But Felix Tshisekedi does not hide that he needs the help of his partners to bring the promised change. However, on the European Union side, among the most critical organizations of the electoral process, the Member States remain divided: on the one hand those who would like to support the new head of state, on the other those who fear see the pro-Kabila coalition take over.

In an interview with Belgian newspaper Le Soir , Felix Tshisekedi called for a relaxation of EU sanctions against Joseph Kabila's relatives. This is another subject of debate among the Member States.

Another highlight of the visit of Felix Tshisekedi in Europe, yesterday, Wednesday, August 18 in the evening, a big meeting in front of the diaspora Congolese. Several thousand people were gathered in one of the halls of the Heysel Palace, many activists of his party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), from all over Europe to see their president.

Finally no questions-answers, Felix Tshisekedi rather wanted to pay tribute to them: It is the story of a son of political opponent, exiled, who becomes president of the Republic. It is the charge d'affaires of the embassy of Congo in Belgium who tells it by way of introductory word. In the room, some waited more than 5 hours to live this moment. Standing in their chairs, they immortalize it with their mobile phone. Felix Tshisekedi: " I want to thank you warmly, you who saw me born politically. Believe me, dear compatriots, no matter how much time you take to return home, there will always be a place for each of you here . "

In his speech, Felix Tshisekedi multiplies the promises, always the same, on education, health, infrastructure, agriculture. But he does one that touches this audience more than the others, that of realizing his father's dream: " We have the duty to continue this fight until the establishment of the rule of law in our country. This wish dear to our great fighter, the immortal Stephen Tshisekedi wa Mulumba. I'm not a dictator and I do not want to make me a dictator. " «We will reclaim the initiative of selling and renting our own minerals»

 

During his speech, Felix Tshisekedi also insists on the reform of the mining sector of his country: «It is true that the mines have caused us a lot of misfortunes, but it is mainly because there was no organization serious in this sector. We preferred to ruin the mining economy. So, we will restore order by complying with the laws in force [...]. We will reclaim the initiative of selling and renting our own minerals. I am tired of the fact that Congolese mines and Congolese land serve only as extraction land. Now, it is also time for it to be a land of transformation. "

In conclusion, the Congolese president takes up this sentence which, since his inauguration, is chanted to him by his partisans: «Do not forget what dad said, it is the people first.»

Writer/Editor : 

Cassien Tribunal Aungane

Telephone : +243 81 00 44 202

e-mail : tribunalcassien5@gmail.com