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DRC: What's behind Kabuya's sacking from UDPS Secretariat?
Former Secretary General of the UDPS, ruling party in DRC.
Augustin
Kabuya who was Secretary General of the ruling UDPS party in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) was suddenly dismissed on August 11 amid deepening
internal wrangles within President Felix Tshisekedi’s party.
Kabuya’s
unexpected dismissal by the party's disciplinary body triggered a shockwave,
revealing the deep internal divisions weakening the UDPS.
The
reasons for Kabuya’s controversial departure remain questionable.
The
body that put the 54-year-old man from Kasai Oriental at the helm of UDPS two
years ago now seems to have lost all confidence in him, accusing him of
mismanagement, nepotism, and lack of vision for the party.
Tensions, simmering for months, have finally erupted, propelling UDPS into an unprecedented crisis.
Déogratias
Bizibu Balola who was Kabuya's deputy, has been appointed to act as interim
leader for six months. The future of the party remains uncertain, as its
stability seems more threatened than ever.
Sources
confirmed that Kabuya’s dismissal was plotted by Tshisekedi so as to appoint
Bizibu who originates from South Kivu Province, in order to win hearts and
minds in eastern DRC where the President has constantly failed to restore
security.
Mismanagement
within UDPS and the party’s failure to deal with the ever-deteriorating
security crisis in eastern DRC, made it lose popularity among the population in
the region.
By
appointing Bizibu as head of UDPS, Tshisekedi hopes his party will regain
popularity in eastern DRC.
Kabuya's
associates dispute the legitimacy of his dismissal and insist that only
President Tshisekedi, the undisputed leader of UDPS, has the power to decide
Kabuya's fate.
Tshisekedi
is yet to announce anything about the saga in his party. The crisis within UDPS
comes at a critical time, as the party prepares for the 2028 elections.
Internal differences could weaken its position in the Congolese political
scene, jeopardizing its chances of maintaining power.
The party’s headquarters is still under the control of Kabuya’s supporters who are ready to resist those he described as “fishermen in troubled waters.”
