Congo Presidential Contender Katumbi Sees Security as Top Priority

  • Katumbi says he is confident of winning free-and-fair election
  • Former provincial governor sees need for professional army
Moise KatumbiPhotographer: Arsene Mpiana/AFP/Getty Images
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Moise Katumbi, who is seen as a serious contender in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s upcoming presidential elections, said he’s confident of winning a clean contest outright and that he’ll prioritize building a professional army and maintaining peace and security if he does.

The former governor of the copper- and cobalt-rich Katanga province and one of Congo’s wealthiest businessmen, Katumbi has shaken up the country’s politics since he returned from exile in 2019 to a welcome from tens of thousands of supporters. In a Jan. 16 interview, he excoriated President Felix Tshisekedi for failing to quell insecurity along Congo’s eastern border.