Congolese opposition leader Moise Katumbi, who has been in exile in Europe for nearly three years, returned home on Monday, 20 May 2019, in his stronghold in Lubumbashi (Katanga).
Katumbi was reportedly welcomed by several thousand people who had gathered at Lubumbashi airport in the early hours of Monday morning.
His private jet landed at 11:45 a.m. local time at Luano International Airport, where he was met by several leaders of the Lamuka coalition – of which he is the coordinator. The leading members of the coalition, including Martin Fayulu, Adolphe Muzito, Jean-Pierre Bemba and Freddy Matungulu, were represented.
In addition, the president of the Tout-Puissant Mazembe football club will also reportedly hold a meeting this evening in the city, capital of the province of Haut-Katanga, of which he was governor between 2007 and 2015.
“I left the country on May 20, I will give you the date, I’ll return to Lubumbashi on May 20. It’s final, on May 20, I’ll be in Lubumbashi,” Katumbi told French media RFI and France 24. According to him, it was the judicial harassment of the regime of former President Joseph Kabila (2001 – 2019) that prevented him from running for president.
Having finally supported the candidacy of Martin Fayulu, who came second, Katumbi today hails the results of Félix Tshisekedi, who has been in power in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 25 January 2019.
– APA
