Democratic Republic of Congo leading opposition leader Moise Katumbi has strongly condemned the violent attack on fellow opposition leader Delly Sesanga during a procession in Kananga on Saturday describing it as “barbaric” and “savagery” urging authorities to stop it especially that it was a democratic country.
Katumbi says it was sad to see the DRC degenerate into violence across all corners of the country instead of its leaders working towards improving the lives of its people.
“All of the DRC is facing more and more political violence. Kananga was the scene of a savage and unacceptable aggression against Delly Sesanga,” he posted on his social media handle which has ove one million followers.
Katumbi has offered support and solidarity to Sesanga, leader of Envol which collaborates with Ensemble, whose head was glazed by a missle that left him bleeding.
“To those who resort to barbaric methods, I remind you that we are not enemies but political adversaries.
“It is not by throwing stones against opponents that we consolidate democracy,” the former Katanga Governor said.
The Ensemble pour la République president says the people of Congo will never accept that the dictatorship leadership that deprived the country of half a century of prosperity returns.
Katumbi said the elements of dictatorship were visible as Congolese were being deprived of liberty, are suffering from arbitrary arrests, enduring increased human rights violations, subjected to false trials and their freedom of expression being muzzled.
“The Congolese yearn for change, freedom and a better life. Let us continue together and with all responsibility to preach love, unity, cohesion and not hatred, division and chaos,” he said.
Katumbi will face Tshisekedi in the December 20, 2023 presidential and parliamentary election but his collaborators have faced aggression from the government some of whom have died in the process.
The attack on Sesanga is one of the many assassination attempts carried out by state agents.
Currently, the opposition is still mourning the death of Ensemble spokesperson Chérubin Okende who was murdered 24 hours after being kidnapped at the Constitutional Court.
Other political associates of Katumbi like Senior Special Advisor Salomon Kalonda Della and Member of Parliament Mike Mukebayi are in prison on false and politically motivated charges.
