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Body of opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi arrives DR Congo after 2-year delay

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Body of opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi arrives DR Congo after 2-year delay

The body of former DRC opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has been returned from Brussels, two years after his death.

The return of his corpse to Congo was delayed because of political tensions with former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila.

The 84-year-old Tshisekedi was the face of the DRC’s opposition for decades until his death in February 2017 in the Belgian capital.

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Reports revealed that the return of his body fulfils one of the first promises made by his son Felix, who unexpectedly came to power as president earlier this year.

Tens of thousands of people are reported to be paying tribute at a stadium on Friday and presidents from six other African nations are expected to attend the memorial service on Saturday.

Moss Lenga, spokesperson for the Tshisekedi funeral committee, told the BBC that religious leaders would inspect the body to confirm it was that of Etienne Tshisekedi.

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