The Murder of Cherubin Okende: Ambassador Herman Cohen, The oracle of Washington, Speaks Out

Herman Cohen tweeted, "In the DRC, the murder of opposition political leader Cherubin Okende marks the beginning of the end of Congolese democracy in its embryonic state, a major setback for Africa's efforts to liberalize the sociopolitical environment." It is worth noting that he had previously predicted the end of Joseph Kabila's grip on Felix Tshisekedi's regime. Should we once again pay attention to the growing disaproval emanating from the US capital, far from the DR Congo?

 

From daytime abductions by Felix Tshisekedi's infamous DEMIAP to assassinations, the government of Felix Tshisekedi, like many other dictatorships, is transforming the people's hope for democracy into a dictatorship. As Plato said, "Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery arises out of the most extreme liberty." However, dictators generally meet a bad end. Indeed, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker in Berlin as the Allied forces approached the city. Benito Mussolini was captured by Italian partisans and executed by a firing squad. Saddam Hussein was captured by American forces and subsequently executed. Likewise, for Nicolae Ceaușescu in Romania. In Congo, Marshal Mobutu fled the country and died in exile. The question now is what the end of President Felix Tshisekedi will look like: Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, or Mobutu?

 

In the DRC, the murder of opposition political leader Cherubin Okende marks the beginning of the end of Congolese democracy in its embryonic state, a major setback for Africa's efforts to liberalize the sociopolitical environment.

— Herman J. Cohen (@CohenOnAfrica) July 14, 2023

 

Indeed, the murder of opposition leader Cherubin Okende in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sent shockwaves throughout the country. According to a tweet by former US Assistant Secretary of African Affairs, Ambassador Herman Cohen, President Felix Tshisekedi is suffocating democracy in the DRC, which could lead to anarchy in this central African country and ignite the entire Great Lakes region.

 

This brutal act marks the beginning of the end of Congolese democracy, which was still in its infancy. Cherubin Okende, as a political opposition figure, played a crucial role in promoting democracy and political pluralism in the DRC. His murder represents a serious setback for Africa's efforts to liberalize the sociopolitical environment.

 

The DRC faces numerous challenges in its democratic consolidation and the protection of its citizens' fundamental rights. The assassination of Cherubin Okende is an act that undermines the stability and security of the entire country. If appropriate measures are not taken to hold the perpetrators accountable, release political actors like Franck Diongo, Salomon Idi Kalonda, Mike Mukebayi, and ensure the future security of all political actors, the DRC risks descending into anarchy, thereby endangering the peace and stability of the entire Great Lakes region.

 

Faced with these repressive acts and the deterioration of the democratic situation in the DRC, it is imperative that the international community and regional actors mobilize to strongly condemn these human rights violations and support the Congolese people in their struggle for democracy. The will of the people must be respected, and the democratic process preserved. The leaders of the DRC, including Felix Tshisekedi, must be held accountable for their actions and infringements on the freedom and security of their citizens.

 

It is important to remember that the end of a dictatorship is never easy or predictable. History shows us that dictatorships have an inevitable fate and that the voice of the people always triumphs. It is up to Felix Tshisekedi to choose his end, like his predecessors Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, Nicolae Ceaușescu, or Marshal Mobutu. There is life after the presidency. Let us hope that the approaching end of Felix Tshisekedi's presidency will occur with respect for democracy and the universal values of freedom and justice.