Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo has been sworn in as President of the Democratic Republic of Congo for his second five-year term, starting on January 20, 2024.
On the 20th and 21st of December of last year, elections took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo that included members of Parliament, local authorities, and the President of the Republic.
The election resulted in Félix Tshisekedi winning over his opponents, receiving 73.34% of the votes, while former Governor of Katanga Province, Moise Katumbi, received 18.08%, and Martin Fayulu received 4.92%.
In front of thousands of people gathered in the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, as well as other dignitaries and officials including presidents and heads of governments, mainly African and foreign leaders.
President Félix Tshisekedi vowed to be the president of the Congolese people, to defend the country’s interests, to fight for the unity of the people, and to protect the security of the DRC as the Commander-in-Chief of the Congolese Army, FARDC.
“I am taking back the baton of command that you entrusted to me. We want a more united, stronger and prosperous Congo,” Tshisekedi, 60, said during the inauguration ceremony in the capital on Saturday.
“I am aware of your expectations,” he declared, referring among other things to unemployment, youth, women’s rights and national cohesion.
President Tshisekedi, who is 60 years old, began his 5-year mandate today and will face problems including extreme poverty and poor living conditions that threaten more than 70% of the people in the country, foreign loans that threaten the country’s economy, and insecurity in Eastern DR Congo.