New, diverse government unveiled in DRC to revive economy

A new government dubbed the "sacred union of the nation" was unveiled in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday, April 12. The new government is tasked with reviving the country's economy as well as addressing insecurity, particularly in eastern DRC where the Congolese army (FARDC) is seeking regional armies’ cooperation to fight and definitively neutralize internal and external armed terror groups.

The development comes after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi in mid February appointed the director general of Gecamines (General Quarries and Mines), the state mining company, Sama Lukonde Kyenge, 43, as the new prime minister. On Monday, Lukonde said the new government’s priorities also include health, education, justice, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, electoral process, infrastructure and digital projects.

The new DRC government sees a reduction in numbers to 57 members and a fresh dose of diversity, with 27% representation, a younger average age of 47 years and with 80% new figures. The previous team, led by Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, 73, who resigned in end January, had 43 pro-Kabila and 23 pro-Tshisekedi ministers and the portfolios were split 83% male and only 17% female.

Christophe Lutundula, a supporter of Moïse Kabumbi, was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Christian Mwando -- another lieutenant of the former Katanga governor, became Minister of Planning. The Minister of Defence is a retired doctor-general, Gilbert Kabanda -- close to President Tshisekedi. The Minister of the Interior is Daniel Aselo Okito, deputy secretary-general of the UDPS, the presidential party.

New faces in the cabinet include Patrick Muyaya in the Ministry of Communication, Government Spokesperson Jean-Pierre Lihau who was promoted to Minister of the Civil Service, Antoinette Kalambayi as Minister of Mines, and Mutombo Kiese Rose, the Minister for Justice.

The former governor of North Kivu Province in the country's restive east, Julien Paluku, who ditched the Kabila camp, was retained as Minister for Industry. Jean-Lucien Bussa was also retained in the External Trade ministry. José Mpanda and Augustin Kibassa will continue heading Scientific Research and Telecommunications and New technology of Information and Communication ministries, respectively.

The new cabinet must first be vetted by the National Assembly before Lukonde presents his government's programmes. The appointment of the new government comes four months after the breakup of the coalition of President Tshisekedi with his predecessor Joseph Kabila.

In December last year, the Congolese President dissolved the alliance  between his own coalition party Cap for Change (CACH) and that of the former president -The Common Front for Congo (FCC).

Since Tshisekedi’s election in January 2019, his government found it difficult to pass and implement important decisions due to the fact that Kabila had the numbers in parliament that blocked and undermined the government's plans.