utgoing President Joseph Kabila has promised to give Félix Tshisekedi all “support” and has called for the formation of a “coalition of progressive forces” around his successor.Tshisekedi will be sworn-in as the 5th president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, during a ceremony at noon Thursday at the presidential palace in Kinshasa.

Kabila addressed the nation on Wednesday on national television (RTNC), and expressed his “sincere wishes” and “ardent prayers” for the success of Tshisékédi who “now has responsibility for the nation.”

“Let him be assured of being able to count on me, whenever he so wishes and whenever the interests of the country so requires.”

Kabila then called on his compatriots to “massively” support his successor in the same way that they had “accompanied and supported him throughout the past 18 years”, when he led the country.

In support of the new head of state, Kabila advocates the formation of a “coalition” able to stand up “against the predatory forces that have come together, and will always try to come together to take over our natural resources without compensation for our children.”