Moïse Katumbi's special advisor and member of his party, Ensemble pour la République, Salomon Kalonda, from Brussels in Belgium where he is undergoing medical treatment, thanks God for supporting him during his imprisonment, and the political and judicial authorities of Congo for arranging his evacuation to this country for care.

"I give thanks to God who allowed me to endure throughout this ordeal. I express my gratitude to the political and judicial authorities who have made it possible for me to receive medical treatment in an appropriate setting," he notes before paying tribute to the medical staff both in Kinshasa and Brussels for their care.

Likewise, he advocates for the release of his party comrade, Mike Mukebayi, incarcerated at the central prison of Makala, and does not forget to acknowledge the already effective release of journalist Stany Bujakera.

The message from Salomon Kalonda

After ten months of grueling captivity which severely deteriorated my health, the provisional freedom I was granted allowed for my medical evacuation to Belgium where I successfully underwent surgery a few days ago.

I am now approaching the post-operative phase, the most sensitive and delicate. I have good hope, thanks to your fervent prayers, to achieve a quick recovery and to return very soon to our home in DRC.

I give thanks to God who has allowed me to endure throughout this ordeal. I express my gratitude to the political and judicial authorities who made it possible for me to receive medical treatment in an appropriate setting.

I wholeheartedly thank those who, in the light as well as in the shadows, mobilized and supported me in these difficult times: family, friends and acquaintances, religious confessions, human rights activists, voters who have given me their trust, my lawyers, and in particular, the medical staff in Kinshasa who demonstrated great skill, dedication, and exceptional kindness.

All my gratitude also to the surgeon who operated on me, Dr. Benoît Bomans, and to the emergency doctor, Dr. Stéphane Tankoua. Today, as every day since that sad month of July 2023, I have a special thought for a friend, a brother, Chérubin Okende, to whom I could not say goodbye. I want to assure the whole family of my complete fidelity to his memory.

Finally, my thoughts go out to Mukebayi Mike, detained without trial at Makala and whose release I hope will be very rapid; to Stany Bujakera who, thank God, has since found freedom and his family; and to others who have experienced or are experiencing the painful experience of prison. I have not forgotten them.

Boni Tsala