Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo[1] (born 13 June 1963 in Léopoldville)[2] is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, the oldest and largest opposition party of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[3] As of January 9, 2019, he is the President-elect of the DRC.[4]
Félix Tshisekedi was born in Kinshasa on 13 June 1963 from his mother Marthe and his father Étienne Tshisekedi. His father is of Luba ethnicity.[5] Félix had a comfortable life as a youth in the capital. When his father created the UDPS in the early 1980's, publicly opposing Mobutu, Félix was forced to accompany his dissident father into house arrest in his native village in central Kasaï. This led to him ending his studies. In 1985, Mobutu authorised him, his mother and his brothers to leave Kasaï. He went on to live in Brussels, Belgium, where he worked at odd jobs, enjoyed the night life and became an active UDPS militant.[2]
Late 2008, he was named as the UDPS National secretary for external relations.[6]
In November 2011, he obtained a seat in the National Assembly, representing the city of Mbuji Mayi in Kasai-Oriental province. However, he did not take up his seat, claiming[7] « pas question de siéger au sein des institutions issues des élections frauduleuses »[8] His mandate was soon invalidated for "absenteism".[6]
In May 2013, he refused a position of rapporteur at the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), saying: « Je ne tiens pas à mettre ma carrière politique entre parenthèses »[9] The CENI's article 17 excludes membership for those who are members of a political formation.[6]
In October 2016, Tshisekedi became vice secretary general of the UDPS.[6]
On 31 March 2018, he was elected to lead the UDPS, after the death of his father, predecessor and founder of the party, Étienne Tshisekedi, on 1 February 2017.[10]
Also on 31 March 2018, Félix Tshisekedi was chosen by his party to be the UDPS presidential candidate in the general election that took place on 30 December 2018.[1]
On January 9, 2019, it was announced Tshisekedi had been elected President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[11]