Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has betrayed his father, Etienne Tshisekedi’s principles and ideals that stood firm against dictatorship and indiscrimination, Belgian lawyer Alexis Deswaef says.
Alexis Deswaef, Belgian lawyer representing exiled Congolese opposition Franck Diongo, has called on the Belgian government to take a stand against what he describes as a dictatorial drift by Tshisekedi and his government in the DR Congo.
“Belgian diplomacy cannot ignore this state of affairs. She must learn from it. We are waiting for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to call her Congolese counterpart to understand what is happening in this country” Deswaef said at a press conference held in Brussels on Tuesday.
“Often, state repression does not target leaders, but rather grassroots activists who lack the necessary notoriety and protection.”
Deswaef also highlighted the dictatorial brutality being perpetrated by Tshisekedi and his arms of government against political figures like Franck Diongo who is a former traveling companion of the late former Prime Minister Étienne Tshisekedi.
“Franck Diongo is perhaps living proof of President Tshisekedi’s betrayal of his father’s ideals. This element must be taken into account by the Belgian government to put an end to the repression of political opponents in the DRC,” he added.
Franck Diongo, an historic figure in the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), was arrested on June 20, 2023 while returning home after attending the funeral before being transferred to military intelligence.
According to his lawyer, Diongo suffered “unspeakable torture” during his 20-day incommunicado detention at the military intelligence headquarters.
Deswaef calls for increased vigilance and concrete actions to protect the rights of political opponents in the DR Congo.
