DRC's new PM and parliament sworn in after months of delay

RFI

11 June 2024 at 7:15 am·2-min read

The Democratic Republic of Congo held a session to swear in its new Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka and her government on Tuesday, ending more than six months of deadlock following President Felix Tshisekedi's re-election.

The DRC’s planning minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka was appointed as the country's first woman Prime Minister at the beginning of April.

An economist, she takes over from Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, following President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election on 20 December where he garnered more than 70 percent of votes. The results were disputed by the opposition.

Parties supporting Tshisekedi garnered more than 90 percent of the seats in parliament, allowing him to legislate with ease.

Referring to the delay forming a government, the President's communications director Erik Nyindu said it took time for the different parties in the ruling coalition to find a compromise.

Suminwa will be now tasked with pushing the President’s declared priorities of employment, youth, women and national cohesion for the nation of about 100 million people.

Fairer society

"Our ambition is to build a more united and more secure state in the heart of Africa with a more diversified and competitive economy and achieve a fairer society for sustainable development," Suminwa said when she put forth her programme to lawmakers on 8 June.

The estimated cost of the Government Action Program for the period 2024-2028 stands at $92 billion (€85 billion), or an average annual cost of $18 billion (€17 billion).

The project must now be adopted by national deputies.

Overly ambitious

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Fairer society

Overly ambitious

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