As reported by AfroAmerica Network on January 20, 2019 (see: DR Congo: Felix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe win the bet. What is next?), the new Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) president, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has, today on Jan 25, 2019, appointed his campaign manager Vital Kamerhe to be his Chief of Staff. With the appointment, Vital Kamerhe has finaly made an important step towards his long term goal of becoming one of the most influential DRC political leaders.
In a ceremony to take over from the previous Chief of Staff and attended by one of AfroAmerica Network sources, Vital Kamerhe did not need introduction.
Meanwhile, given the controversy behind the elections, some challenges appear to have started to manifest across the country. Vital Kamerhe, as the right arm of DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to exert his political acumen to avert a looming potential turmoil and chaos.
In fact, since January 21, 2019, several protests by the supporters of Martin Fayulu were quelled by the Police accross the country, especially in Kinshasa. At the same time, reports from Eastern DRC pointing to resumed intense fighting among the armed rebels and militia, have reached AfroAmerica Network. One of these reports point to on-going heavy fightings in Masisi, North-Kivu.
Some of these fightings allegedly include Rwandan special forces, which attacked positions held by Congolese militias known as Nyatura, after crossing the border. According to sources, during the attacks, several Rwandan army soldiers were killed and weapons were seized by the Congolese militia.
Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame has backed the losing side in the Congolese elections and declined to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Felix Tshisekedi after his mediation, as the African Union Chairman, was rejected by Congolese leaders.
