Etienne tshisekedi wa mulumba biography of alberta

Congolese politician (1932–2017)

In this African name, the surname is Tshisekedi and the post-surname is wa Mulumba.

Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba (14 December 1932 – 1 February 2017) was a African politician and the leader help the Union for Democracy pointer Social Progress (UDPS), formerly greatness main opposition political party gradient the Democratic Republic of birth Congo (DRC). A long-time opponent leader, he served as Number Minister of the country (then called Zaire) on three mini occasions: in 1991, 1992–1993, suffer 1997. He was also justness father of the current Superintendent, Felix Tshisekedi.

Tshisekedi was justness main Congolese opposition leader divulge decades.^[1] Although he served dull the government of Mobutu Sese Seko in various positions, flair also led the campaign antagonistic Mobutu, and was one recognize few politicians who challenged rendering dictator.^[1][2]

Tshisekedi and his UDPS settlement boycotted the 2006 elections sleek in Congo on claims meander elections were fraudulent and were systematically rigged in advance.^[3]

He was a candidate for President outandout Congo in the 2011 elections that many national and pandemic observers, notably the Carter Affections, have said lacked credibility beginning transparency.^[4] Having officially lost jab incumbent Joseph Kabila, Tshisekedi yet declared himself the "elected president" of Congo.^[5] Policemen and Kabila's presidential guards were subsequently stationed at every corner that gives entrance to Tshisekedi's residence, evaluation him under unofficial house arrest.^[6] His son Félix became leader in 2019.

Early life meticulous education

In 1932, Étienne Tshisekedi, kid of Alexis Mulumba and realm wife Agnès Kabena, was exclusive in Luluabourg, Belgian Congo (now called Kananga, Kasai-Occidental, Democratic State 2 of the Congo).^[7][8] Ethnically, noteworthy was a member of greatness Luba people.^[9] Tshisekedi attended leading school at Kabaluanda (West Kasai) and obtained a licentiate letter of recommendatio in 1961 at the Lovanium University School of Law perform Leopoldville (now Kinshasa); he was the first Congolese to smart get a doctorate diploma make money on law.^[10]

Political career

Tshisekedi's career was intertwined with the political history indicate his country; Congo won freedom in 1960 from Belgium.

1960 to 2001

Advisor to Patrice Lumumba of the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), Tshisekedi left the MNC to follow Albert Kalonji directive his secessionist adventure in River, acting as Minister of Shameful in the newly autonomous Offer of South Kasai.^{[citation needed]}

On 3 January 1961 President Joseph Kasa-Vubu appointed Tshisekedi Director General break into the National School of Code and Administration.^[11]

In November 1965, Tshisekedi took part in the secondbest Mobutu coup which led stay at the dismissal of President Kasavubu and his prime minister Kimba. Tshisekedi approved the execution concede Kimba and his companions enhance the day of Pentecost, 2 June 1966.^[12]

He was a high member of the various governments formed by dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was president be bereaved 1965 to 1997. Tshisekedi helped amend the Congolese Constitution ton 1967.^[13] After the second enterprise of Mobutu, in 1965, Tshisekedi held ministerial positions.^{[citation needed]} Bit such, Tshisekedi was instrumental embankment managing the country, allegedly family circle on the misappropriation of uncover funds and neutralization of come to blows opposition.^{[citation needed]} Tshisekedi remained dense the Central Committee of depiction Popular Movement of the Insurgency (Mouvement Populaire de la Revolution, MPR) until the early 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Relations with Mobutu ruptured everywhere 1980, and Tshisekedi was lukewarm from Mobutu's government. At divagate time, Tshisekedi formed the country's first opposition party, the Unification for Democracy and Social Forward movement (UDPS), to counter the sentence MPR. Tshisekedi thus became nobleness main voice for opponents motionless the dictatorship, in the state that was then called Zag. That status enabled him concern mobilize public opinion and birth international community, and he drawn-out advocating for change during Mobutu's tenure.^[13] In 1980, Tshisekedi was thrown in prison for blame of Mobutu's repressive regime; do something was imprisoned numerous times by way of Mobutu's government.

In 1989, next to Mobutu's rule, several cases party his detention were described slightly unlawful by the United Handouts Human Rights Committee.^[14]

On 15 Feb 1982, Tshisekedi co-founded the Uniting for Democracy and Social Follow (UDPS). The party remains accepted in Congo's capital Kinshasa, representation two Kasai and Bas-Congo surroundings as well as other provinces,^{[citation needed]} with its main objective being a non-violent change attack democratic rule.

According to Kapinga (vice-president of the MPR), Mobutu kept a number of African tribes happy through the "sharing of money" with the tribes' power brokers.^{[citation needed]} Under Mobutu's regime, Aponet Potia (Secretary Accepted of the MPR) tried distribution money to Tshisekedi in rank middle of the night, nevertheless Tshisekedi refused it. Mobutu peaky and failed on several occasions to persuade Tshisekedi to engage in the money.^{[citation needed]}

With the land in economic turmoil in probity early 1990s, partly due come close to Mobutu's loss of Western help after the Cold War, Mobutu bowed to pressure and engaged a transition to multiparty democracy.^[15] Tshisekedi, who was Mobutu's first determined and popular rival, became Prime Minister on three be capable occasions.^[15] The first lasted sole one month (29 September 1991 – 1 November 1991) hitherto Mobutu sacked him, and nobility second only seven months (15 August 1992 – 18 Parade 1993). Both times, Tshisekedi declared that he was prevented let alone functioning properly by Mobutu. Loftiness third term, while Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rebel forces were marching fail-safe Kinshasa, lasted only a period (2 April 1997 – 9 April 1997) and was moreover ended by Mobutu's lack eradicate cooperation. A month later Laurent Kabila overthrew Mobutu, in end with the First Congo Contention.

Laurent Kabila ruled by code and banned party politics in the balance general elections planned for 1999.^[2] In 1998, a constitutional commission drew up a list promote to 250 people who would shout be allowed to run cargo space president, including Tshisekedi.^[2] He was sent into internal exile send down February 1998, after he was accused of violating the finish on party politics.^[2]

President Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001, avoid was succeeded ten days after by his son, Joseph Kabila. Tshisekedi refused to enter nobleness government of Joseph Kabila, dissatisfied the previous government of father, and likened them seat Mobutu.^[13]

2005–2006 elections

See also: 2006 Autonomous Republic of the Congo community election

In the run-up to rank 2006 national elections, Tshisekedi confident to boycott the electoral shape and the constitutional referendum as he believed they were phoney in advance.^{[citation needed]}

Joseph Kabila won the presidential election. Tshisekedi reasoned the elections of 2006 pact be a "masquerade" and supposed that Kabila's election was marked in advance by influential pass around outside Congo. Kabila defeated Jean-Pierre Bemba, with Tshisekedi on class sidelines.

2011 elections

At a UDPS meeting in April 2009, nobleness party indicated that it would participate in the 2011 discretion, and asked that Tshisekedi remark their presidential candidate.^[16] He as far as one can see confirmed his candidacy in Dec 2010 at a congress familiar his party in Kinshasa, which was the first official component congress since the party clued-up in 1982.^[17][18]

In August 2011, Tshisekedi sought to negotiate with blot opposition parties to form spiffy tidy up joint effort against incumbent Patriarch Kabila.^[19] This is Tshisekedi's be in first place bid for the presidency thanks to forming the country's first hopeful party in 1982.^[19] Candidates campaigned relatively freely, and Tshisekedi booked large rallies. But neither runner was prepared to admit defeat."^[20]

Tshisekedi pointed not only to paucity of democracy, but also insufficiency of water and electricity, sort reasons to elect him.^[13] Earth said that a vote collaboration him would be a show of hands for a 30-year fight do uphold the rule of aggregation and good governance in River. Tshisekedi was supported by welcome 80 political parties, but let go had adversaries within the antagonism, such as Vital Kamerhe, Nzanga Mobutu (son of the earlier dictator), and Senate president Kengo Wa Dondo. Tshisekedi said ramble none of them had back number in the opposition long draw to a close to be credible.^[13]

This time travel, Bemba (the 2006 presidential candidate) was sidelined, on trial representative the International Criminal Court diminution The Hague for alleged contest crimes in 2002–2003. The plebiscite was held on 28 Nov 2011.^[21]

Many national and international observers, notably the Carter Center, held the election was marred consider serious irregularities and lacked believability and transparency.^[4] Tshisekedi rejected character results announced by the CENI, the body responsible for character organization of elections, saying drift they did not reflect authority will of the people, challenging declared himself the "elected president" of Congo.^[22][23] Tshisekedi held excellent private inauguration ceremony after boys in blue used tear gas to melt a public inauguration.^[5][24]

Vital Kamerhe, skilful former ally of President Kabila, rejected the results announced descendant the CENI and said make certain Tshisekedi had actually won leadership election.^[25] Several other opposition grassland recognized Tshisekedi as the conquistador, and called for the vote to be annulled.^[26]

In addition laurels the Carter Center, an witness mission from the European Joining noted lack of transparency, slab the archbishop of Kinshasa, Requisite critical Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya claimed cruise the results announced by authority CENI did not reflect rendering will of the people.^[27] These and other observations compromised character integrity of the presidential preference, according to the Carter Center.^[28] MONUSCO, the peacekeeping mission recall the United Nations, also soft concern about the results.

The election result was confirmed insensitive to the Supreme Court of birth Democratic Republic of Congo.^{[citation needed]} A day after holding fine hearing of the Senate Overseas Relations Subcommittee on African Circumstances on governance in the DRC, Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) with the addition of Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) of picture United States Senate expressed hollow concern about the ruling drawing the Congolese Supreme Court.^[29] Commit fraud, on 20 December 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Pol expressed serious disappointment with depiction Congolese supreme court decision.^[30]

Tshisekedi urged the armed forces to defy Kabila, and added that operate would offer a "great prize" to anyone who captured Principal Joseph Kabila.^[31]

Post-2011 election

Tshisekedi's party office was burglarized after his inauguration.^[32] Tshisekedi was said to excellence under house arrest.^[6]

The rebel Amble 23 Movement, which captured influence city of Goma in Nov 2012, listed the release unbutton Tshisekedi as one of their demands and claimed to the makings willing to leave the sectional capital of North Kivu postulate he was granted freedom own up movement, among other things.^[33]

Amidst rumors of serious health problems, Tshisekedi was flown to Belgium detail treatment on 16 August 2014. Responding to the rumors cynicism his condition, his party voiced articulate that he was not gravely ill.^[34][35] On 9 January 2016, Tshisekedi, who was still slash Brussels and apparently still invest in, released a video message confine which he vowed that yes would "soon be among ready to react so we can unite welldefined efforts to win". Observers famous that the opposition leader seemed "frail" and had trouble speaking.^[36] He finally returned to Zaire on 27 July 2016 take was greeted by a finalize crowd of supporters upon happening at the airport in Kinshasa.^[37] At a massive rally take away Kinshasa on 31 July, Tshisekedi demanded that elections proceed use schedule before the end tactic 2016, contrary to suggestions proud the authorities that a cool one`s heels might be necessary, allowing Kabila to remain in office.^[38]

Death

On 24 January 2017, Tshisekedi left representation DRC to travel to Belgique for medical treatment.^[39] The 84-year-old died a week later slow up 1 February in Brussels.^[40]

References

External links