The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila has made all the leaders of his political coalition pledge their allegiance to him. Joseph Kabila called the 18 leaders who make up his FCC coalition to his farm outside the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.
One by one they sat before Mr Kabila and signed a document in which they reaffirmed their loyalty to him. The coalition was created ahead of the election and won most parliamentary seats. Nearly a month ago he officially handed over power to Felix Tshisekedi, who won the disputed presidential election.
The party leaders have now agreed to turn the coalition into a government. This raises questions about how much power the new president, Felix Tshisekedi, actually wields. It is also further evidence that the former president Joseph Kabila is determined to keep a firm grip on power despite stepping down after the controversial, disputed election.
