DR Congo incumbent President Fèlix Tshisekedi has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority not to grant opposition candidate Moïse Katumbi’s chartered plane flight permit to conduct his countrywide campaign ahead of next month’s heated presidential election.
Tshisekedi has been plunged into panic situation following a dreadful start to his campaigns while Katumbi has managed to garner overwhelming support since the start of the campaign period last Sunday.
In the face of fierce competition from Katumbi, Tshisekedi is now looking for means to derail his challenger’s campaign trail by using the government institutions.
The Civil Aviation Authority is yet to grant Katumbi’s chartered plane flight permit despite having received all necessary and valid documents which were submitted last week.
Meanwhile, the African Commission for the Supervision of Elections (CASE) has issued a statement to denounce the act of electoral unfairness exhibited by Tshisekedi and the Congolese authorities.
“We vigorously denounce the bans decided by the power of President FÉLIX TSHISEKEDI against part of the air fleet of Candidate MOÏSE KATUMBI CHAPWE in the middle of the electoral campaign.
This illegal attitude is interpreted as FEAR-PANIC in the face of a competitor who, moreover, is from the opposition” the CASE statement reads.
