Doctor Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, announced this October 2, 2023 in Kinshasa his candidacy for the presidential election scheduled during the general election on December 20.
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Doctor Denis Mukwege will be a candidate for the presidential election on December 20, 2023. He announced this during a press conference in Kinshasa. A last minute application since we are in the final stretch to submit the files to the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni).
This candidacy of Denis Mukwege had been considered for several months. His name often came up among potential candidates. In recent weeks, this has seemed more and more obvious.
“ I’m not going to wait until 2028 »
His supporters, those who have been pushing him for years, were convinced that this time was the right one. He confirmed it: “ I am not going to wait until 2028. I am not doing it out of interest, nor for power, but to save my homeland. Tomorrow it will be too late, I’m going now. »
Its program would be organized around 12 pillars, the two main of which are on the one hand peace, security and defense, fighting against the balkanization of the country, and on the other hand justice and the rule of law. A fairly coherent program in relation to the fights, positions taken by Doctor Mukwege. He has been calling for an end to impunity for years.
He also began his speech with a minute of silence for all the victims of the conflicts in Congo. “ I am an indignant, revolted citizen “, he declared again.
He should now submit his file quickly. Indeed, according to one of his relatives, he must leave the capital for an emergency on October 4. Then it will be the presidential campaign to organize.
Around twenty declared candidates
There are now nearly twenty of them who have expressed their ambition for this presidential election. For the moment, according to communications from the candidates and the CENI, there are seven of them who have officially submitted their application. But this week there is going to be a parade in the Commission office.
Among the expected personalities: Moses Katumbi. Those around him talk about October 3. Martin Fayulu who, after having boycotted the vote, will finally be part of it. But there will also be the candidate who will be designated after the primaries of a part of civil society.
And then the outgoing president of course. For the moment, Felix Tshisekedi is traveling to Katanga, an opposition stronghold. He arrived on October 1 in Lubumbashi.