President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo recently unveiled a significant national initiative: a “National Dialogue for Peace, Cohesion, and the Re-foundation of the State.” This ambitious undertaking, announced in a televised address to the nation, is framed as a direct response to the persistent security, political, and social crises that have plagued the DR Congo for years.
In his highly anticipated speech, President Tshisekedi outlined the unique framework of this process, distinguishing it from previous political dialogues held within the country.
“This National Dialogue will primarily be characterized by its territorial roots: it will not commence in Kinshasa, but rather at the heart of our 26 provinces, our territories, and our local communities,” President Tshisekedi affirmed.
The Congolese president emphasized his vision to construct a dialogue “conceived by Congolese and for Congolese,” with the aim of identifying the deep-seated causes behind the recurrent instabilities that weaken the nation.
While civil society stakeholders have broadly welcomed this announcement, several prominent opposition figures swiftly voiced their reservations, deeming the proposed format either insufficient or ill-suited to the current national context.
A dialogue originating from the provinces
As explained by the president, the process will commence with a series of consultations across the country’s 26 provinces, culminating in national sessions held in Kinshasa.
Provincial forums are expected to bring together national and provincial elected officials, representatives from both the ruling majority and opposition parties, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious denominations, and key economic, academic, and scientific stakeholders.
The primary aim is to empower each province to conduct its own thorough assessment of its specific challenges.
“Each province will honestly establish its own diagnosis: the causes of insecurity, land and customary conflicts, community tensions, administrative deficiencies, inequalities, development hurdles, and the reforms deemed necessary,” elaborated the head of state of the DR Congo.
The findings from these local consultations will then serve as the foundation for the national discussions planned for Kinshasa.
Presidential ordinances to organize the process
Félix Tshisekedi also announced the imminent signing of two presidential ordinances.
The first ordinance will establish an organizing committee, tasked with managing the administrative, logistical, and material preparations for the dialogue, ensuring all necessary conditions are met for its successful execution.
The second will formally convene the dialogue, detailing the modalities for participant representation, the various stages of the process, and the mechanisms responsible for monitoring the implementation of the resulting recommendations.
The president indicated that these proceedings are projected to last for a maximum duration of three months.
Upon the conclusion of these sessions, a “national pact” is expected to be adopted, accompanied by a permanent mechanism to monitor the commitments made.
Tshisekedi outlines red lines
The Congolese president also clearly delineated several non-negotiable boundaries for the dialogue.
He particularly stressed that the dialogue should not be misconstrued as a platform for power-sharing.
“Too often, we have responded to crises by sharing power rather than by strengthening the state,” he stated emphatically.
Félix Tshisekedi also explicitly ruled out any challenge to the institutions established by the 2023 elections, emphasizing the imperative to uphold constitutional order.
Another firm red line concerned the participation of armed groups.
“No one will be excluded due to their opinions, criticisms, political affiliation, provincial origin, language, ethnicity, or religion. However, no one can claim a seat at the nation’s table while simultaneously taking up arms against it,” the president declared.
This stipulation effectively excludes armed movements active in the eastern part of the country, even as negotiations between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 continue in Doha.
Nonetheless, the president assured that the national dialogue would not supersede diplomatic initiatives already underway at regional and international levels.
Claudel Lubaya speaks of a “missed opportunity”
In a message posted on the social network X, opposition figure Claudel Lubaya was particularly critical of the presidential address.
“Neither breadth of vision, nor awareness of the gravity of the moment, nor responses commensurate with the crisis,” he wrote.
The former legislator believes that the head of state failed to provide the anticipated solutions to the challenges facing the country.
In another reaction, he characterized the presidential announcement as a “missed appointment with history” and judged the proposed dialogue as falling short of the expectations of many Congolese citizens.
For Claudel Lubaya, the issue extends beyond merely who participates in the process.
“The point of disagreement is the substance. It is not the form,” he asserted in Congolese media.
The opposition leader went further, claiming that the dialogue risked primarily serving the ruling coalition rather than fostering a genuine space for national consultation.
Christian Mwando questions inclusivity
Christian Mwando Nsimba, an opposition Member of Parliament and a leader within the Ensemble pour la République party, also voiced his concerns.
In his view, the format presented by President Tshisekedi appears insufficient to resolve the ongoing crisis.
“What President Tshisekedi is proposing is a vast carnival that will not bring an end to the conflict,” he declared.
Christian Mwando specifically questioned the omission of the term “inclusive” in the head of state’s speech, a concept that had frequently been emphasized in prior discussions about a national dialogue.
The opposition figure also raised questions regarding the potential overlap or conflict between this new consultation framework and the ongoing Doha process, which is dedicated to discussions with the AFC/M23.
Jean-Claude Katende supports certain directions
Conversely, Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADHO), expressed a favorable view of several aspects of the presidential address.
In a message shared on X, the lawyer and human rights advocate particularly commended the rejection of power-sharing.
“I subscribe to President Félix Tshisekedi’s discourse on the dialogue insofar as he clearly excluded any power-sharing,” he wrote.
Jean-Claude Katende also welcomed the emphasis on citizen participation and the mechanisms designed to ensure the follow-up of adopted resolutions.
He did, however, urge vigilance.
“I am satisfied with the president’s intervention with the hope that everything he said will be observed and that it is not demagoguery,” he added.
A political test for the government
The announcement of this national dialogue ushers in a new political phase for the DR Congo, a nation grappling with persistent insecurity in its eastern regions and numerous internal political tensions.
For the current government, the immediate challenge lies in convincing political forces, civil society, and the country’s diverse components that this process can yield tangible results.
For the opposition, the fundamental question remains whether this dialogue will truly serve as a framework for broad national consultation or primarily as an initiative driven by the presidential camp.
The forthcoming ordinances, as indicated by Félix Tshisekedi, are expected to provide further clarity on the composition of the preparatory committee and the precise modalities for participation in the upcoming national sessions.