Pierre Miguicha: “I encourage Belgian voters of Congolese origin to vote” – Congolese Independence Party

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Are you OK?

Everything is going very well. I am a little tired of the election next Sunday. We have been on the ground looking forward to meeting with many citizens from various countries, especially those of Congolese descent, to discuss all the issues we are fighting for.

You were born in Leuven, Belgium. How long did you spend in Congo?

I didn’t spend a lot of time there. I often went there for short stays of a month. I have family in Chomba, in North Kivu. As an adult, I went back there to visit the capital. In 2009, I worked with the labor camp to compile a report on the camps for displaced persons around Goma. I subsequently traveled to Kinshasa to meet my wife, who is from Kassie. She has shared my life for twelve years. I have never lived there permanently. I can assure you that I have a good understanding of the country and its realities.

In the face of the crisis that is sweeping the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, we hear very few non-Congolese Belgian voices. What do you think?

We are not often heard. It’s true! This is a statement that can be considered critical. I will not hide it from you, for ten years I have stepped aside and am no longer a representative. I worked for the CD&V federal councillors, another political family. This situation forced me to assume a certain form of reservation obligation. All this did not prevent me from condemning the racist acts against Pierre Kompany and Cécile Thonga. I have repeatedly expressed my disappointment and embarrassment at the soft position taken by Belgium on the situation in eastern Congo. This situation has been described as an aggression from a neighboring country, providing clear support to the rebels. Eastern Congo has been unstable for almost thirty years. As the Congolese head of state said, we must regret that Congolese citizens are in contact with the aggressor.

What do we see? These parties that were once called “fringe” – in this case the Belgian Labour Party (PTB) and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally – are now openly denouncing the crisis in eastern Congo. Should we conclude that: « Are the “traditional” Belgian parties more willing to let go of “darling” Paul Kagame?

I cannot speak for all the “traditional” parties you might call them. I made it clear that I was disappointed with the Foreign Minister’s stance. (Hajah Rahabib, ndlr). She has never explicitly condemned the actions of the Rwandan regime. I will not insult the Rwandan people, who themselves are necessarily victims of those in power. Mrs. Rahbib condemned the conflict in a message recorded on her smartphone. She was recently in Kigali to attend the thirtieth anniversary of the genocide. The Great Lakes region acts as if nothing unusual has happened. This attitude is partially understandable. I guess this is the position of a country that considers Congo as an independent sovereign state. Any position taken could be seen as neo-colonialism. These are the parties in power. The PTB and the National Assembly, as you are talking about, are the opposition. They have enough freedom to express themselves. I can assure you that the Belgian “traditional parties” – the Engages – have already criticized the atrocities in North Kivu. This information has not yet spread among the public.

“Belgium does not want to take a stand for fear that it will be accused of being neo-colonialist,” you say! What if Ukraine is attacked by Russia?

The situation in Ukraine is happening on two or three different levels. The first is the geographical proximity. In addition, the war is also close to the EU. These aspects mean that EU countries are already involved. This is especially the case with Belgium, which will send F16s. Regarding Congo, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo spoke last March. You have to be honest. It must be admitted that the Rwandan regime is already ahead of the DRC in the field of lobbying at the US and European level. This is true both in the business community and in the international media.

What do you say to those sub-Saharan voters, especially those in Congo, who criticize you for only showing up on the eve of the popular consultation?

I can agree with them. It is true that we are more visible in the countryside. In the future we should plan to hold at least two meetings a year to discuss all issues, instead of waiting for five years. All in all, it is not accurate to say that we are invisible. Because every political representative has a permanence. If I am elected, I will advise other political parties to organize meetings to guide people.

You are 23 years old^th On the list of “promises” in the region. What do you think about the fact that sub-Saharan Africans consider all Belgian candidates from sub-Saharan Africa to be nothing more than “voice traps”?

What was the reality fifteen or twenty years ago is no longer the reality today! In almost all political families, there are two or three sub-Saharan elected officials. In 2019, in the former CDh (Engagés), there were Pierre Kompany and Gladys Kazadi and Bertin Mampaka, now active under the MR. The big mouths who finally sit in Parliament. We see that we are not just making up numbers.

Why did the voters at the polling station vote for Pierre Migisa?

For my part, I would like to emphasize my extensive experience in the field. I have been a journalist in Belgium for eighteen years. I know the realities of both countries, Belgium and Congo. I have been a deputy for five years. Nor do I omit visits to ministerial offices. To answer your question directly, there is experience and there is the fact that I can translate promises into concrete actions. Finally, there is my accessibility. If I were a voter, I would better focus my vote on the candidates who have a better chance. Any dispersion of voices leads us to the so-called “voice trap”. I ask voters to “vote usefully”.