NEWS– The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi Thilombo has appointed the country’s first-ever female Prime Minister, Hon Judith Suminwa who has been the Minister for Planning and she takes over from Hon Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde.
President Tshisekedi’s inauguration for a second term in January kick-started a lengthy search for a majority coalition in the National Assembly which is a key step before a Prime Minister could be named and a government formed.
President Tshisekedi won the election with 73.47 percent of the vote in December, and the election passed largely peacefully in a country long torn by violence and instability, but the opposition branded the ballot a sham and voting was officially extended by a day due to logistical delays, and polls were open for days afterwards in remote areas.
The new Prime Minister will be tasked with pushing the president’s declared priorities of employment, youth, women and national cohesion for the nation of about 100 million people.
“I am aware of the great responsibility and I will work for peace and the development of the country,” Hon Suminwa told journalists yesterday after she received News about her appointment.
Tshisekedi first became president in 2019 promising to improve living conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo which boasts mineral riches but has a largely impoverished population and put an end to 25 years of bloodshed in the East of the country.
Additional Reporting from Associated Press
