The current obsession in Congo’s political circles revolves around President Félix Tshisekedi’s leadership style, which critics argue resembles that of France’s Louis XIV. Olivier Kamitatu, Chief of Staff to Moïse Katumbi, delivered this scathing assessment during a live broadcast hosted by journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala.

According to Kamitatu, the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo was designed specifically to prevent such authoritarian tendencies. He invoked the myth of Ulysses and the Sirens, recalling how the Greek hero had himself tied to the mast of his ship to resist temptation. Similarly, he argued, constitutional safeguards exist to protect the nation from the fleeting passions and personal ambitions of those in power.

“All constitutional rules must transcend momentary passions,” Kamitatu emphasized. He highlighted how the Constitution protects minority rights often threatened by majority rule and safeguards the interests of future generations who cannot yet vote. To treat the Constitution as an instrument of personal ambition, he warned, is to betray the spirit of the Sun City Accord that laid the foundation for the DRC’s post-conflict reconstruction.

Kamitatu’s remarks underscore growing concerns about the concentration of power in Kinshasa and the perceived erosion of democratic checks and balances in the country.