Felix Tshisekedi, the incumbent president and candidate for re-election, is on a campaign tour in the South Kivu region as the countdown to the elections continues, with only nine days remaining before the vote on December 20. Tshisekedi held a rally in Bukavu on Friday, December 8, addressing a crowd of supporters in Independence Square.
During his speech, Tshisekedi highlighted his accomplishments during his current term, emphasizing the growth of the country’s international reserves from $840 million to nearly $5 billion and the increase in the national budget from $5 billion to $16 billion. He also spoke about implementing the local development program in 145 territories and pledged to focus on its expansion if re-elected.
Tshisekedi touted achievements such as free primary education and promised to extend this initiative to secondary education if granted a second term. He also mentioned the introduction of universal health coverage. Taking a dig at his neighbor, Paul Kagame, whom Kinshasa accuses of supporting the M23 rebellion, Tshisekedi compared Kagame to Adolf Hitler.
Additionally, the president-candidate criticized some presidential contenders, accusing them of being supported by Rwanda. He targeted those who hesitated to mention Paul Kagame and the M23 as aggressors against the country.
Felix Tshisekedi is scheduled to visit Walungu, Uvira, Makobola, and Shabunda before heading to Goma on Sunday, December 10.