The days following the motion of no confidence against Alexis Gisaro Muvunyi have revealed an unexpected shockwave in the Congolese political landscape. What seemed to be a unanimous condemnation of the Minister of State for Infrastructure has triggered a wave of reactions from all regions of the country: North Kivu, South Kivu, Katanga, and of course, the Banyamulenge community. Added to this is the intervention of his party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), which has not remained indifferent.
For the UDPS, this motion is not only aimed at Alexis Gisaro, but also at the head of state himself. The minister's achievements are among the few that the government can boast of. Attacking him amounts to shaking one of the pillars of the government's record. In this context, the motion appears to be a political maneuver with dubious motivations, highlighting the power games and the systematic stigmatization of minorities, particularly the Tutsi.
The Withdrawal of Signatures: A Popular Awakening
Remarkably, popular pressure has pushed some political parties, such as the MLC, to withdraw their signatures from the motion of no confidence. This about-face is the result of an unprecedented mobilization. For the first time, Congolese from various backgrounds have united to defend a noble cause: the denunciation of a flagrant injustice inflicted on a Tutsi.
Is this a sign that the population is beginning to grasp the extent of systemic discrimination and stigmatization? Or is it a pragmatic reaction, motivated by the fear of seeing ongoing infrastructure work suspended? It is difficult to decide. However, this collective surge marks a turning point in the way Congolese react to injustices, even if the path to true recognition of merit remains long and strewn with pitfalls.
A Step Towards Merit, But Still a Long Road Ahead
This case raises a crucial question: Are Congolese people prepared to judge their leaders on their skills and achievements rather than their ethnicity? While the case of Alexis Gisaro has temporarily broken down tribal divisions, this does not mean that political tribalism is on the decline. The no-confidence vote against Gisaro is a reminder of the sad reality that minorities, particularly Tutsi, remain easy targets in a system where scapegoating tactics prevail.
The humiliating ouster of Mr Azarias Ruberwa Manywa, another Tutsi, under pressure from the National Assembly is still remembered. Despite his integrity and impeccable record, he had been sidelined by similar maneuvers orchestrated by figures like Zangi. Ruberwa, like Gisaro today, illustrates the fragility of minorities in a political environment dominated by tribal and populist calculations.
A Glimmer of Hope
The popular mobilization and the withdrawal of signatures from some political parties may be the beginnings of change. But much remains to be done to establish a political culture based on merit, integrity and human rights. As long as tribalism remains a political tool, competent and honest figures like Alexis Gisaro will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of partisan interests.
However, the recent history of this motion shows that a union is possible, even fleeting, to defend noble principles. Providence, in this case, seems to have taken the form of an emerging collective conscience, a timid but significant step towards a more just DRC. It is now up to Congolese society to transform this glimmer of hope into a lasting flame, by learning to recognize and defend competence, whatever the origin of the person who carries it.
November 25, 2024
Paul Kabudogo Rugaba
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