
RDC: UDPS – Communique No. 003 de l’Association des Jeunes Professionnels de l’UDPS (16.03.2019)






If you ever was thinking that President Felix Tshisekedi had any control in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That is only on paper and in title. Because, again it is stated, that the man behind the scenes, the former President Joseph Kabila and his Front Commun pur le Congo (FCC). Who has the power and the people behind him. If not the structure and the reach to rig themselves in overwhelming power. Because that is more natural.
We cannot act surprised, the Ex-President did whatever he could to postpone the elections and configure ways to be dubious, but he has overstepped it. Not only putting his hand-picked judges in the Supreme Court and ensuring laws, which are beneficial for himself. Which means that the Ex-President can be for life Senator in the Parliament. Meaning, he lingers around and can play a fool of the current leadership. Something he does.
Kabila are no so cunning, that he just a moment ago. Had the audacity to officially have a Coalition Government with CACH, the supposed winner of this Election and the Two-Party “opposition”. This coalition became official on the 6th March 2019. Alas, it is so weak, as while the CACH won the Presidency, they had a minority in the house of Representatives. Into a margin, where the FCC and Kabila has 350 Members of Parliament out of 500 MPs. Meaning, they have the solid majority and will follow Kabila orders and his wilful wish to change laws on his behalf.
To continue this path, in the Provincial Assemblies, the FCC got 20 out of 24. Meaning the political landscape is all in favour of Kabila still. The FCC celebrated this and took it all out. This meaning again the President lacks so much popularity, that CACH and the Parties cannot must public support to stand by the Presidency. This happen just days ago on the 11th March 2019.
To top it off, to control both Chambers, the FCC has today officially gotten 24 out of 26 Senators. This means, the Ex-President has all his representatives there too and the CACH, which was the coalition of the current President got none. If you believe this is real elections and real polls. Your wrong, because all these measures fits the Ex-President and his possible future. There is nothing that makes sense.
If the President and his party actually WON the December 2018 elections, wouldn’t they have popularity to win the Provincial Assemblies and Senatorial Seats, alas in this Republic that is not the case. Kabila has all power, even went into a joint operation with the new power. Just to prove, that Tshisekedi is a minor minion of him. Because, he has to beg out of the hand of Kabila. That is why we will see steady meetings and get guidance from the predecessor.
The ones who accepted the outcome of the elections in December 2018 and Announced in January 2019. You have accepted yourself to get tricked by the master himself. He is not even trying to linger in the shadow or lurk slowly. His grabbing power and controlling the legislative, the courts and all parts of government. But with a nicely certified puppet, a man whose is willing to kiss the ring and be loyal to him. Peace.


The greatest concern centres on the neighbouring urban areas of Katwa and Butembo, which continue to contribute about three-quarters of recent cases.
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 15, 2019 – The public health response to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak continues to make gains. During the last 21 days (20 February – 12 March 2019), no new cases have been detected in 10 of the 20 health zones that have been affected during the outbreak (Figure 1). There has also been fewer new cases observed over the past five weeks compared to January 2019 and earlier in the outbreak (Figure 2).
Currently, the greatest concern centres on the neighbouring urban areas of Katwa and Butembo, which continue to contribute about three-quarters of recent cases. Clusters in other areas of North Kivu and Ituri provinces have been linked to chains of transmission in Katwa and Butembo, and have thus far been contained to limited local transmissions with relatively small numbers of cases. A total of 74 confirmed cases were reported during the last 21 days from 32 of the 125 health areas affected to date (Table 1). Risk of further chains of transmission and spread remain high, as highlighted by the recent spread to Lubero Health Zone, and reintroduction to Biena Health Zone following a prolonged period without new cases.
Response teams are fully operational in all outbreak affected areas and there are encouraging improvements in community acceptance of the response, despite the challenges of ongoing insecurity caused by armed groups. For example, during the last 21 days in Katwa and Butembo, 88% of the 256 families with a family member who died and was suspected to have EVD, accepted the support from response teams to conduct a safe and dignified burial. Seventy-four new vaccination rings were launched, with over 90% of people eligible for vaccination accepting to do so, and over 90% of these participated in follow-up visits. A total of 5974 people (including 2159 health and frontline workers) consented and were vaccinated this period; overall 87,632 people have been vaccinated to date. Vaccination teams are continuing to follow-up on 12 rings wherein the families have not yet accepted the intervention, and two other rings that are in the process of being defined. Seven field laboratories have remained fully operational, sustaining similar testing rates as previous weeks. During the past week, 1213 samples from new suspected cases, community deaths and previously confirmed cases were tested within 48 hours. Outreach teams made up mostly of local volunteers also met with 6000 households during the past week, building local knowledge of Ebola, and referring sick individuals to either Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs) or other health facilities as appropriate. In the last two weeks, community dialogues were held in several villages in Katwa and Vuhovi to find ways in engaging community members to build trust and ownership in the Ebola response.
Efforts to strengthen case finding and investigation, and contact tracing activities are also bearing fruit. Of 74 confirmed cases reported in the last 21 days, 83% (62 cases) have been epidemiologically linked to active chains of transmission; either listed as contacts at illness onset (47 cases) or linked retrospectively to other cases or health centre where they were likely exposed (15 cases). Investigations are ongoing to identify links for the remaining cases.
Challenges include further attacks by armed groups on affected communities and ETCs, elements of community mistrust, and persistent delays in getting people into care in ETCs for various reasons. The Ministry of Health, WHO and partners continue to work actively to build community trust and participation in the response, while reinforcing security measures to protect patients and response teams. The ETC in Butembo has been rebuilt following two attacks and is treating patients again, and the Katwa Transit Centre remains operational.
Since the beginning of the outbreak to 12 March 2019, 927 EVD cases1 (862 confirmed and 65 probable) have been reported, of which 57% (525) were female and 30% (280) were children aged less than 18 years. Cumulatively, cases have been reported from 125 of 319 health areas across 20 health zones of the North Kivu and Ituri provinces (Table 1). Overall, 584 deaths (case fatality ratio: 63%) have been reported, and 308 patients have been discharged from ETCs.
*Data in recent weeks are subject to delays in case confirmation and reporting, as well as ongoing data cleaning.



