DRC: the appointment of Sama Lukonde as Prime Minister welcomed with kindness

A view of downtown Kinshasa, the Congolese capital.

(Illustrative image) Wikimedia / CC

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5 mins

Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, 43, is the new Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This appointment is supposed to definitively consecrate the end of the coalition between the FCC of former President Joseph Kabila and Cach of Félix Tshisekedi.

It is also an attempt to respond to several current political issues in the DRC.

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When he briefly presents his priorities to the press after his meeting of about an hour with Félix Tshisekedi,

Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde

cites in particular the fight against insecurity in the east of the country and in Katanga.

This region weighed in the choice of the Prime Minister.

Felix Tshisekedi does not want this area to escape his control, 

" said one of his advisers.

It is first of all the region where Joseph Kabila has retreated in recent months, one of his bastions.

It is also the scene of growing violence with again last Sunday an attack by alleged independence militiamen called Bakata-Katanga against two military camps.

In Felix Tshisekedi's entourage, we fear a link between these acts of violence and the growing frustration among former Katangan dignitaries of the Kabila regime.

Felix Tshisekedi also wanted an ally and not a potential rival to the prime minister, it is said on the side of the presidency.

And its low political weight then becomes an asset.

He is a member of a fragmented party with few deputies.

But he keeps, we are assured on the side of the presidency, good relations with his former colleagues in the FCC of Joseph Kabila, now defectors, and of the Ensemble of Moïse Katumbi.

These are the two main forces of the Union Sacrée in the National Assembly.

Renewal of the political class

In addition, with the appointment of this young engineer, Félix Tshisekedi sends a clear message on his desire to renew the ruling class, says one of his advisers.

Another adds that they are also sure that with his relative political weight, Sama Lukonde will not overshadow the President of the Republic.

For Jacquemain Shabani, one of the senior executives of Félix Tshisekedi's party, this appointment is also a message of confidence and sincerity in this sacred Union on the part of President Tshisekedi.

“ 

Indeed, Prime Minister Sama is not part of the ranks of the UDPS but it is a satisfactory choice for us.

I believe it symbolizes a new political generation, a new political class.

It is a sign of rupture and change, so desired by the vast majority of Congolese opinion and even by the President of the Republic.

Although he was a minister and a member of Parliament, he also has this management experience.

The President of the Republic wanted to respect the literal tradition of the Sacred Union, that is to say to work with everyone, to trust everyone, and he went to recharge his batteries among our allies, our partners in this Sacred Union and I believe that this will reassure as many people as possible of the sincerity of the President of the Republic, not only to trust everyone but also to work with everyone.

This will be a plus for the dynamics of the new government.

"

Expectations, challenges

This appointment is "

in the current context, rather good news 

", also considers his former colleague and minister Olivier Kamitatu and faithful to Moïse Katumbi.

The Prime Minister is a balanced man who knows how to get involved.

He did not hesitate to resign when we understood with the friends of the G7 that we wanted to change the Constitution.

So he is a man who knows the weight of his responsibilities.

We must wish him good luck because the challenges ahead are extremely important and the burden is very heavy.

Olivier Kamitu expects the new chief executive " 

to remain faithful to the ideals he once led, both to consolidate the gains of democracy and to improve the living conditions of the population.

Without delay, he must also prepare the electoral cycle which must lead to free democratic elections, transparent in December 2023

 ”.

For his part, Patrick Nkanga, adviser to the outgoing Prime Minister and member of the PPRD political bureau, congratulated the newcomer.

But he is waiting to be able to judge on the spot.

The FCC opposition says it is ready to control the action of its government.

We hope that he will enjoy the fullness of his prerogatives as Prime Minister and that he will not serve as a scapegoat for the UDPS when the going gets tough.

We, as the opposition, will observe the first 100 days of his government once invested.

It will only be after that that we will cast our critical eye on the management of the country.

But we hope that it will meet the wishes of our people, which is more important than anything. 

"

► To read also: In the DRC, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, CEO of Gécamines, appointed to the prime minister

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In the DRC, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, CEO of Gécamines, appointed to the prime minister