Fight In DR Congo Parliament As Tshisekedi Ally is Removed As Deputy Speaker
There was fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo parliament as lawmakers voted to remove close ally of the president Félix Tshisekedi of the from office of deputy speaker
Jean-Marc Kabund has been under fire over claims that he wanted $ 7 million to organize a formal meeting to extend the country’s state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic. He has dismissed the allegation as political witch hunt.
Kabund belongs to a minority party, and the petition to dismiss him angered his colleagues. The minority MPs, composed of President Félix Tshisekedi’s party the Union for Democracy and Social Progress and of his ally Vital Kamerhe’s Union for the Congolese Nation, left the room.
And the vote carried on, with 289 of 315 voting to dismiss Mr Kabund.
The petition had been filed by Jean Jacques Mamba after Mr Kabund failed to justify why the huge sum of $7 million was needed to organise the congress that was initially meant to happen by the end of April.
“It is not surprising for me… as a true Tshisekediste, I leave this post with my head held high,” Mr Kabund later said in a tweet.