President Felix Tshisekedi’s scheme to block opposition leader Moise Katumbi from contesting the presidential elections in December has suffered a setback after parliament closed on June 15 without tabling a controversial nationality law.
Congolite, a bill advanced by a bankrupt American national Noel Tshiani, was sponsored by Tshisekedi to eliminate Katumbi from contesting the election on December 20, 2023 but received volatile opposition across the country and beyond Congolese border.
According to text of the bill which also failed to pass the house in 2021, any Congolese seeking office must demonstrate that both his or parents are Congolese.
Katumbi’s father is Greek-Jew who settled in the former Belgian colony after fleeing the Holocaust and his opponents wanted to use this heritage against him.
However, Katumbi has lived his life in Congo where he has grown his business empire and became Katanga Governor between 2007 and 2015.
On June 15, 2023, the National Assembly closed the March ordinary session without tabling the “Tshani” bill.
Katumbi should now look forward to facing Tshisekedi at the ballot but more hurdles exist after the Tshani drafted bill which was endorsed by the national deputy Nsingi Pululu collpased.
The National Assembly will have a budget session in September and the ruling UDPS can still try to squeeze the bill which will still face hurdles.
