DRC President Tshisekedi establishes committee for national dialogue

President Félix Tshisekedi has signed an ordinance establishing the Organizing Committee for the National Dialogue for Peace, Cohesion, and the Refoundation of the State in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This committee is tasked with managing the administrative, logistical, financial, and security preparations required for the upcoming political consultations.

The committee will operate under the direct authority of the President, who will appoint its coordinator, deputy, and members, as well as an eleven-member technical secretariat. The structure is funded by the public treasury, including an initial endowment from the Head of State. The committee is responsible for establishing contact with national and international partners and preparing a report for the President, which will serve as the basis for a second ordinance to formally convene the dialogue.

The planned process is intended to be a two-stage approach: starting with provincial consultations across the 26 provinces to gather input from local authorities, political parties, civil society, and religious groups, followed by national assemblies in Kinshasa. The goal is to produce a ‘National Pact for Peace, Cohesion, and the Refoundation of the State’ within a three-month timeframe. However, the centralized control of the committee has drawn criticism from opposition figures who argue the presidency should not dictate the framework of the negotiations.