For his first commemoration at the head of state, Felix Tshisekedi has chosen to travel to Bunia in Ituri province (northeast), struck by massacres. In Kinshasa, the Lamuka opposition coalition intends to demonstrate, despite the prohibition by Governor Gentiny Ngobila and police warnings to disperse any group of more than ten people. In an exclusive interview granted to RFI and France 24, Félix Tshisekedi confirms that he is in favor of the prohibition of the demonstration desired by the opposition, while promising that there will be "no repression," following the "excesses" noted upon the return of opposition figure Jean-Pierre Bemba. The reaction to the microphone on RFI from the latter and from Martin Fayulu.

In the time of Joseph Kabila, June 30 was a grand ceremony, military parade and gathering of every official present, most often in a provincial city for a tour of recent achievements. Civil society denounced millions swallowed up in transportation costs every year. The opposition avoided demonstrating that day. "It was above all the regime's celebration," recalls an activist.

Félix Tshisekedi has chosen instead to travel to Bunia in Ituri, a region recently struck by death. "There is no reason to celebrate while a certain part of the house is burning," this is what the head of state explained yesterday on RFI and France 24. "It is a symbol, the president wants to show that he has the well-being of the population at heart," comments someone close to him, as criticism of the presidency's excessive spending multiplies.

The opposition too has chosen to innovate by calling for a demonstration on June 30. Facing Governor Gentiny Ngobila who accuses it of wanting to desecrate a "sacred day," Lamuka says it wants to recall that the struggle for sovereignty and freedom is far from over, according to Martin Fayulu. The main coalition of Congolese opposition intends thus to continue contesting the legitimacy of the new institutions and the invalidation of its deputies. This motive is not sufficient for Lucha. The citizen movement said it was dismayed to see Lamuka not interested in the real problems of Congolese people.

Facing the prohibition measures taken by the governor, two opposition heavyweights reacted.

Martin Fayulu: "Our arrangements have been made with the Congolese people"

"Mr. Félix Tshisekedi knows very well because just yesterday, we were organizing demonstrations together and he was at my side to defend the fundamental rights of Congolese citizens. I cannot understand that today, he takes this position. All those who said that Félix Tshisekedi respected human rights must now reconsider. So for me, Congolese will march to demand respect for the will of the people. Because everyone knows that there will be no free Congo with Mr. Kabila at the head of the institutions of the Republic. And I repeat, it is Kabila who is running this country today. There is nothing to cancel the demonstration for. The governor of Kinshasa city sent us a letter asking us to postpone the demonstration and we tell him that we cannot postpone it because all arrangements have been made with our activists, with the Congolese people for this march."

→ Read also: Félix Tshisekedi on RFI and France 24: "I do not think that I am a puppet"

Jean-Pierre Bemba: "Those who yesterday defended democracy are behaving exactly like those they denounced"

"We have no lessons to receive. When supporters of the UDPS killed a police officer in Mbuji-Mayi, burned the homes of provincial deputies in Mbuji-Mayi, of national deputies in Lumumbashi, burned party headquarters in Kinshasa, in Mbuji Mayi, violated the space of the National Assembly with motorcycles to come distract the deputies who were sitting there. I think we have no lessons to receive. What happened that day were incidents provoked once again by certainly uncontrolled elements of the UDPS that targeted my motorcade which was protected by police and unfortunately which reached the police officers. So I think we must not distort the truth, we must continue to say what is just and not seek to politicize or distort facts. Unfortunately we are noticing that men change but methods remain the same. Those who yesterday defended democracy, freedom of expression, of demonstration, curiously, once seated in the seat, are behaving exactly like those they denounced before."

For his part, the head of the Kinshasa police, General Kasongo, says he has received instruction from the governor of the city province to use all legal means to prevent the peaceful march of the opposition from taking place.

"The police will take measures to ensure that no one disturbs public order. We will be strict, we will be severe, but in respect of human rights. There will be nothing. Any gathering of more than ten people will be dispersed. You know what we experienced when Bemba came on the 23rd. The police will not accept this nonsense anymore. We will be on our feet. We ask the population to remain calm, to go about their business. Those who want to go to church or other activities, are free. Do not be afraid, the police are here. As far as the CAN is concerned, we ask the Kinshasa population to pray for our team; we still have a chance, we must all concentrate on prayer and not on useless distractions."

The signal of the radio and television station RTVS1 of one of the leaders of Lamuka was cut off yesterday. The media of Adolphe Muzito is accused of repeated offenses against the country's authorities. Lamuka denounces this closure of one of the rare media that allows it to reach the masses, on the eve thus of this demonstration. For Jean-Mobert Senga, researcher at Amnesty, it is an unacceptable infringement on rights and freedoms. The Congolese activist recalls that there are procedures to sanction media if they are deficient.

Finally, it should be noted that Moïse Katumbi and Freddy Matungulu, two of the Lamuka leaders who signed the call to demonstrate, will not be present in the processions, they are both absent from the country.