Personal Scandal Emerges
Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is facing rising personal and political pressure after his affair with 43-year-old Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, who confirmed she is pregnant with his child.
According to a video link shared on X, this revelation has attracted international attention. The affair has caused tension in the presidential household, with First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi demanding that Wagner step down from her ministerial role. The private scandal has become a topic of public discussion.
Domestic Pressure Increases
The pregnancy announcement has led to heavy criticism for Kayikwamba Wagner amid public scrutiny and social media backlash. The First Lady is pressing for clear boundaries to maintain stability in the presidential household.
Furthermore, analysts say the scandal adds to Tshisekedi’s domestic challenges. As he continues to manage conflicts in eastern Congo, public perception becomes even more important. Because of this ongoing debate, citizens and political commentators now watch both the president and his government more closely than before.
International Career Support
To manage the controversy while protecting her career, President Tshisekedi is backing Kayikwamba Wagner’s potential transition to an international role. He supports her candidacy for Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), where she would challenge incumbent Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda. The move appears designed to shift attention away from the scandal. At the same time, the strategy shifts public attention back toward diplomacy. As a result, it helps protect Wagner’s professional image. It also gradually moves her away from intense public scrutiny.
OIF Election Dynamics
Plans were confirmed by the DRC government that it would nominate its own candidate to be able to compete with Mushikiwabo, who is aiming to secure his third term in office, which has never been tried before. The OIF election is set to take place in November 2026 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Although the DRC has tried to reassert its influence within the Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo remains the clear frontrunner. This is largely because she has held office since 2019 and enjoys strong backing from several member states. In addition, Rwanda has actively campaigned for her re-election. Analysts say Kayikwamba Wagner has little chance of winning the OIF election. Even so, Kayikwamba Wagner’s candidacy could still help reduce political pressure at home. In that sense, the move serves a broader domestic purpose.
Scandal Affects Governance
To Tshisekedi, this scandal has made it hard to govern in the wake of tensions between countries in the region and diplomats. What first seemed like a private affair has now turned into a serious political issue. At the moment, both local and international observers are watching the situation closely. The president’s response could affect internal stability in the DRC. In the long term, the situation could influence the country’s diplomatic relationships.
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