APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – DR Congo’s former prime minister Matata Ponyo is one of the candidates who have pulled out of the race and announced that they will support Moïse Katumbi in the December 20 elections.
APA reliably learnt Tuesday that campaigning began on November 19.
Katumbi, 58, is the candidate of the Ensemble pour la Republique party and a former governor of Katanga Province. He is one of the key challengers of incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi, who is seeking a second term.
Ponyo, who was DR Congo’s premier from 2012 to 2016, announced he will back Katumbi – a decision he said came from a meeting five opposition leaders held in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria.
Representatives of DR Congo’s main opposition parties held talks earlier in Pretoria to decide on a potential joint candidate to challenge Tshisekedi in the December 20 general election.
Seth Kikuni, a candidate of the Piste pour l’Émergence party, declared his support for Katumbi on Monday, November 20, following Ponyo’s announcement on Sunday.
In a statement, Kikuni rallied more opposition figures to support Katumbi as “the sole opposition candidate” to unseat Tshisekedi, who came to power in 2018.
Kikuni’s announcement was followed by that of Franck Diongo, another candidate who pulled out of the race in favour of Katumbi.
On November 3, the electoral commission approved a list of 25 candidates to face Tshisekedi in the polls. Other challengers include long-time opposition leader Martin Fayulu, who lost in 2018, and Dr Denis Mukwege.
CU/abj/APA