DRC: More than 20 heads of state and several delegations expected at Félix Tshisekedi’s investiture
President Félix Tshisekedi, re-elected for a second term, will take the oath of office on January 20. Over forty delegations, including at least twenty heads of state, are expected to attend his inauguration.
The Congolese presidency has refrained from making the guest list for the inauguration public.
However, one could estimate a number of potential Congolese authorities who may be invited.
According to official sources from foreign affairs and the presidency, about forty invitations have been sent to guests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The 15 countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have also confirmed their presence and have agreed to be represented by their heads of state.
Central African neighbors, notably President Denis Sassou Nguesso, have agreed to make the trip to the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa on January 20.
The President of Senegal and the Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé are also likely to make the journey to Kinshasa.
Even the United States, which generally delegates the ambassador present in Kinshasa, has this time assembled a delegation that will depart from Washington.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden designated a strong delegation to attend President Félix Tshisekedi’s inauguration.
The delegation will be led to Kinshasa on January 20 by the honorable Scott Nathan, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
In 2011, only one head of state, Robert Mugabe, honored the swearing-in ceremony of former President Joseph Kabila with his presence.
Similarly, in 2018, during the swearing-in ceremony marking the end of Kabila’s regime, only Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was seen in the stands.
In 2024, the guest list is rather dynamic, signaling that the DRC is making a significant comeback. It is a rare occurrence in history to witness such a massive presence of heads of state at the inauguration of the President of the DRC.
Jean-Robert TCHANDY
