Félix Tshisekedi

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo
Leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress
Assumed office
31 March 2018
Preceded by Étienne Tshisekedi
Personal details
Political party UDPS

Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo[1] (born 13 June 1963 in Kinshasa)[2] is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, the oldest and largest opposition party of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[3]

Early life and education

Félix Tshisekedi was born in Kinshasa on 13 June 1963 from his mother Marthe and his father Étienne Tshisekedi. Félix had a comfortable life as a youth in the capital. When his father created the UDPS in the early 1980's, publicly opposing Mobutu, Félix was forced to accompany his dissident father into house arrest in his native village in central Kasaï. This led to him ending his studies. In 1985, Mobutu authorised him, his mother and his brothers to leave Kasaï. He went on to live in Brussels, Belgium, where he worked at odd jobs, enjoyed the night life and became an active UDPS militant.[2]

Political career

Late 2008, he was named as the UDPS National secretary for external relations.[4]

In November 2011, he obtained a seat in the National Assembly, representing the city of Mbuji Mayi in Kasai-Oriental province. However, he did not take up his seat, claiming[5] « pas question de siéger au sein des institutions issues des élections frauduleuses »[6] His mandate was soon invalidated for "absenteism".[4]

In May 2013, he refused a position of rapporteur at the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), saying: « Je ne tiens pas à mettre ma carrière politique entre parenthèses »[7] The CENI's article 17 excludes membership for those who are members of a political formation.[4]

In October 2016, Tshisekedi became vice secretary general of the UDPS.[4]

On 31 March 2018, he was elected to lead the UDPS, after the death of his father, predecessor and founder of the party, Étienne Tshisekedi, on 1 February 2017.[8]

Also on 31 March 2018, Félix Tshisekedi was chosen by his party to be the UDPS presidential candidate in the general election scheduled for 23 December 2018.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Félix Tshisekedi investi candidat du parti historique d'opposition UDPS en RDC". Voice of America (in French). 31 March 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 Boisselet, Pierre (15 June 2017). "RDC : Félix Tshisekedi, au nom du père". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Clowes, William (25 May 2018). "Congo Opposition Leaders Mull Unity Candidate for Delayed Vote". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Félix Tshisekedi Premier ministre à la place de Samy Badibanga?". Politico.cd (in French). 23 December 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Pierre Boisselet, in Jeune Afrique, writes that this was ordered by his father
  6. ↑ "out of the question to take office in institutions resulting from fraudulent elections"
  7. ↑ "I don't intend to put my political career between brackets"
  8. ↑ "Tshisekedi's son leads DRC's main opposition party". The Herald. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.