BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE: His Majesty King Mswati III has congratulated Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President-elect Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on his presidential re-election.
During President Tshisekedi’s inauguration, His Majesty was represented by Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Thulisile Dladla, who returned today from the DRC.
The DPM left the country on Friday via the Ngwenya Border Post. She had gone to represent His Majesty King Mswati III at the inauguration of the DRC President.
Speaking at a press conference at the Ngwenya Border Post this morning, Dladla said, “The inauguration ceremony of His Excellency President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo went well.” Dladla said. She shared that even though it was over a short period of time, she thanked His Majesty King Mswati III for the opportunity,” said Dladla.
According to the DPM, over 20 other leaders attended the celebration, including those who were representing other countries, at the swearing-in ceremony in the DRC. She said, “We saw him and passed on our congratulations message from His Majesty. He recognised me as soon as I shook his hand and remembered me,” shared Dladla.
DR Congo’s President Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second term. The Congolese president won a landslide victory in the December elections, highly contested by opposition candidates.
The swearing-in ceremony took place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Saturday. The stands were packed well before midday, with singing and dancing in full flow awaiting the arrival of several invited heads of African states and traditional chiefs from the country’s 26 provinces.
Tshisekedi was first sworn in as president in January 2019, after controversially defeating Joseph Kabila following highly contested elections in December.
