The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has unveiled a new government, ending more than five months of deep uncertainty.
Wednesday’s announcement about the new cabinet’s appointment signalled the end of the long impasse that followed President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election in December. The formation of the government comes 10 days after an attempted coup was foiled.
Government spokesperson Tina Salama announced the formation of the new 54-member cabinet on state broadcaster RTNC.
Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita’s appointment as defence minister is seen as key. He will play a pivotal role given the coup attempt less than two weeks ago and the conflict that is raging between the Congolese army and Rwanda-backed M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels in the mineral-rich east of the country.
Tshisekedi, the son of veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, came to power in 2019, promising to turn DRC into “the Germany of Africa”.
He was re-elected in the first round of presidential elections in December, with more than 70 percent of the vote, but his “Sacred Union of the Nation” platform was still unable to form a government immediately.
The president’s communications director, Erik Nyindu, said the formation of the government had been delayed because it took time for the different parties in the ruling coalition to find a compromise.
Credit: aljazeera.com
