DR Congo Appoints Long-Awaited New Government

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Facts

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) appointed a new government, spokesperson Tina Salama announced on Wednesday, ending a more than five months impasse following President Felix Tshisekedi's re-election.¹
• In the new cabinet, comprising 54 ministers compared to 57 in the last government, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita — a lawyer by training — was given the key post of defense minister as the country faces a severe security crisis in the east.²
• Tshisekedi's senior political advisor Jacquemain Shabani has been appointed deputy prime minister and interior minister, while Kizito Pakabomba will lead the mining ministry in the mineral-rich country.³
• To clear the way for a new government, Tshisekedi previously appointed Judith Suminwa as the Central African country's first female Prime Minister on April 1, before naming Vital Kamerhe as Speaker of Parliament on May 22.⁴
• The government reshuffle comes less than two weeks after the military claimed it foiled an attempted coup involving 'foreigners and Congolese' in the capital Kinshasa near the Palais de la Nation, which houses the presidential seat.⁵
• In office since 2019, Tshisekedi was re-elected in December 2023, with his Sacred Union coalition securing a large parliamentary majority. According to Kinshasa, the government formation was delayed because the coalition parties needed time to reach a compromise.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²RFI, ³Guardian, ⁴Monitor, ⁵France 24 and ⁶Reuters.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The East African. Following the thwarting of an attempted coup by the Congolese military, the appointment of the new cabinet underlines that the country will not be diverted from its chosen path. The new government's mission will be to consolidate the achievements of Tshisekedi's first term, diversify the Congolese economy, create security in the east, and accelerate civil service reforms. The challenges are enormous, but under Tshisekedi's leadership, the Congolese can overcome them.
• Narrative B, as provided by Globe Echo. That the new government was only now able to form a new cabinet is indicative of the DRC's political challenges after Tshisekedi's re-election was marred by irregularities and violence. Already in his first term, he failed to capitalize on the country's vast natural resources to improve the livelihoods of the impoverished population while the conflict in the east continued to rage. Despite a new cabinet, it's questionable whether Kinshasa will finally establish peace and stability.

Predictions