[ad_1]
Congo's two leading opposition parties with a presidential contender on Monday, significantly weakening efforts to defeat the ruling party president Joseph Kabila.
The dramatic development came under the name of the Central African nation 's opposition parties, which they had collectively decided Martin Fayulu Madidi to face the party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary in the Dec. 23 vote.
Among the three top contenders was Felix Tshisekedi, Etienne Tshisekedi. The elder Tshisekedi helped found the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, known to the UDPS, and led political efforts against Kabila until dying in February 2017.
Sunday's announcement of Fayulu's candidacy has prompted uproar in the UDPS ranks, even in the capital, Kinshasa.
"I have realized that the action we took in Geneva was not understood by the party base," he announced on Top Congo FM radio Monday evening. "As a result I am removing my signature in the name of UDPS from this agreement we have signed in Geneva."
Fayulu, a 62-year-old legislator, had supported Etienne Tshisekedi in the 2011 presidential election.
Another prominent opposition party, the UNC led by Vital Kamerhe, also said it was withdrawing from the pact.
The moves mark a serious setback for opposition efforts to unify before the election.
Kabila has been in power since 2001 and his mandate expired in late 2016. But he has remained in office while organizing elections, a move his criticism has been aimed at maintaining his grip on power.
—
Krista Larson reported from Dakar, Senegal.
