Read on Twitter
1 Kamerhe laughed when judge read verdict. Here's our update.
Piece & thread w/ commentary from @fredbauma90 and @wolterssteph
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-20/aide-to-congo-president-declared-guilty-in-corruption-trial via @bpolitics
Piece & thread w/ commentary from @fredbauma90 and @wolterssteph
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-20/aide-to-congo-president-declared-guilty-in-corruption-trial via @bpolitics
2 @fredbauma90 : <<Ce procès et le jugement ont d’abord une valeur pédagogique: pour une fois, une personnalité si haut placée est condamnée pour détournement.>>
3 <<Ça donne espoir à bcp de congolais qui ne cessent de décrier l’accaparement de leurs ressources par les élites politiques et l’impunité dont ils jouissent jusque là.>>
4 <<Toutes fois, Vital n’est pas le seul coupable et la justice ne sera que partiel s’il est la seule personnalité poursuivie et condamnée. D’autres membres des institutions ont facilité directement ou indirectement ce fiasco du programme d’urgence.>>
5 @wolterssteph "It's v significant that someone as visible and powerful as Vital has been prosecuted for corruption. It's also significant that the trial was broadcast for people to be able to watch it and there was an attempt at transparency and to give the process legitimacy."
6 "It's significant not just bc [Felix & Kabila] eliminated a political rival but bc it sends us back to question, 'What was the motivation for this trial?' That question will always hover over this particular conviction."
7 "Was this the settling of political scores? It was also highly convenient bc it appeased a number of different international and national political actors. [...] There was also pressure on Felix to look like he was trying to rectify the big mistakes of his 100 day project."
8 "Reasons to be skeptical of longevity of any sustained effort to go after *anybody* in DRC involved in corruption--including in the Kabila camp; there's plenty of things that need to be looked at from that era and the ongoing participation of Kabila associates in govt now." FIN
