Tshisekedi names Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde new DRC prime minister

16 February 2021
Share this story

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi appointed Monday Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde as Prime Minister.

Mr. Sama Lukonde Kyenge, 43, was until Monday the General Director of the state mining company Gécamines (General Quarries and Mines), the country’s mining flagship project, a position to which he was appointed by Tshisekedi in June 2019.

Lukonde was also once a sports minister and a former party member of the ex-Katanga governor and wealthy businessman Moïse Katumbi. He had switched allegiance from Katumbi to Tshisedi led the party in 2018.

Mr. Katumbi, who has in turn supported Mr. Tshisekedi in recent months, welcomed the appointment of the new Prime Minister: “I wish him every success in his duties, among which peace and security for all Congolese remain the major challenge of government action.”

The largest country in sub-Saharan Africa with a turbulent political history, the DRC experienced its first peaceful transition at the top of the state on January 24, 2019, when former President Kabila handed over power to former opponent Felix Tshisekedi, who was declared the winner of the controversial presidential election of December 2018.

Tshisekedi then led the country in coalition with Kabila’s party, the Front Commun pour le Congo (FCC), which won the majority in parliament in legislative elections held on the same day as the presidential election.

The simmering crisis within the coalition erupted after the controversial appointment of three judges to the Constitutional Court by the head of state in July, followed by their swearing-in in October.

President Félix Tshisekedi and his two new allies still do not agree on the appointments of several heads of major institutions, following the end of the alliance between him and former president Joseph Kabila.

Tshisekedi, who took office in January 2019 but has been frustrated by a coalition government with Kabila’s allies, who won parliamentary majorities in the same election.

By controlling a majority in Parliament, President Tshisekedi would be able to nominate a cabinet of his choosing after two years in which Kabila’s allies have dominated the major ministries.

Tshisekedi now hopes to form a new majority in parliament by winning over members of Kabila’s coalition.

Last Posts

HB invests 137 Million Pula in Botswana, fuelling the nation’s rise as a diamond powerhouse

Share this story

Share this storyEighteen (18) months after launch, HB is advancing HB Botswana’s processing capacity with a transformative new 137 million Pula investment. This commitment will expand HB’s processing capacity and create hundreds of high-quality jobs,…

16 February 2021

Elephant over-population causes massive destruction of trees, poor food and water supply for all the wildlife_

U.S. Appeals Court’s decision on ivory, Rhino horn sales may signal reopening of international trade

Share this story

Share this story By Emmanuel Koro  Johannesburg,  19 November 2024 In a significant development for a return to a reasonable approach to trade in ivory and rhino horn products,  the U.S. Second Court of Appeals has…

16 February 2021

India in top 10 globally for patents, trademarks and industrial designs

Share this story

Share this storyIndia now ranks among the top 10 countries globally in the number of patents, trademarks and industrial design applications, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) 2024 report on IP trends. The…

16 February 2021

Irina Abramova (Moderator), Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug (Mauritania FM), Sergey Lavrov (Russia FM) and Dr Monque Nsanzabanganwa (African Union Commission) - Pic (TPA)

Russia has never been involved in the exploitation of African peoples – Sergey Lavrov

Share this story

Share this storyThe Pan Afrikanist Watchman At the close of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum on November 10th 2024 in the Sirius Federal Territory, Sochi, Russia’s veteran Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov…

16 February 2021

A mass grave bearing the names of six victims of the Matabeleland Massacres, near the now-abandoned Sitezi military camp, where army soldiers involved in the Gukurahundi were based [File: Jerome Delay/AP]

Zimbabweans gripped by fear of another Gukurahundi in Matebeleland

Share this story

Share this storyBy: Vitalio Angula ……… “He is my President”, Charlotte Ncube* responds when asked about her relation to Mqondisi Moyo, President of the Mthwakazi Republic Party. Charlotte Ncube* earns a living selling arts and…

16 February 2021

India's High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Bathath Kumar in the middle

Gaborone City lights up on the celebration of Diwali Mela

Share this story

Share this storyCynthia Thanda Gaborone was shining with lights, joy and laughter on the evening of 16th November 2024 as the Indian Association of Botswana painted warm smiles on the lips of the public when…

16 February 2021

Related Stories