KINSHASA, DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo has finally formed a government, some six months after President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second term.
The country conducted its
general election on December 20, 2023. It was followed by bitter negotiations
between various coalition partners that had helped Tshisekedi cross the finish
line.
In a dispatch publicised early
on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, who resigned in February, was
formally replaced by Judith Suminwa (pictured above). Ms Suminwa had been appointed on
April 1 but had not taken up the task yet.
Now she will have to present
her programme, including budgetary proposals, to the National Assembly. The
National Assembly is also expected to formally approve the new Cabinet which
comprises 54 ministers.
Tshisekedi expects that the
endorsement for his Cabinet will go as planned especially since he enjoys a
majority, with 406 MPs out of the 500 on his side.
There have been major changes
in the new government, notably in the security dockets. Just over a week after
the failed coup d’état, and the persistent war and armed groups, the Tshisekedi
government has changed the ministers of defence and security.
Former Vice-President and
ex-warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba is no longer leading the Ministry of Defence. He
will now be Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Transport. Bemba will be
replaced at the defence ministry by Guy Mwadiamvita, a close associate of President
Tshisekedi and a member of the President’s UDPS party.
The Ministry of the Interior
and Security is now occupied by Jacquemain Shabani, also close to the Congolese
head of state, who replaces another close friend, Peter Kazadi. Tshisekedi has
entrusted the Ministry of Justice to Constant Mutamba, 35, who comes from the
“moderate opposition” and was an unsuccessful candidate in the December 2023
presidential election.
Christophe Lutundula leaves
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be replaced by Thérèse Kayiwamba.
Patrick Muyaya, the Minister for Communication and Government Spokesman, has
been reappointed.
The new government should set
about implementing President Tshisekedi’s programme for his second term in
office.
According to the Congolese
head of State’s communications director, Eric Nyindu, the new government is “a
mission team” which should work to “consolidate the achievements of
Tshisekedi’s first term in office.”
That mission is also about job
creation: The Congolese president has promised to create 6.4 million jobs
during his second term.
“The other mission of Judith
Suminwa’s government is to diversify the Congolese economy; the government will
have to give the Congolese people more purchasing power; guarantee greater
security for citizens; facilitate access to basic services and speed up reforms
in the civil service, in particular,” added Nyindu.
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