DRC: why 57 members in the government of "Sacred Union" of President Tshisekedi?
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi during a visit to Uganda, November 9, 2019. Sumy Sadurni / AFP
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3 min
In the DRC, the members of the new government are finally known.
The first government of the “Sacred Union” desired by President Tshisekedi is made up of 56 and its Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde.
It's 10 less than the previous team.
But it remains beyond what was hoped for.
There were many criteria to reconcile, according to the head of government.
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The Prime Minister said so during his press conference on Monday April 12.
He had hoped to pass under the bar of 50 ministers.
It was a request from civil society, given the meager resources of the state.
But ultimately, the members of the first government of the Sacred Union are 57, the Prime Minister included.
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde explains it by the fact that the sacred union is the largest political coalition that the DRC has known.
24 political groups.
But personalities, in particular from civil society, have also been recruited.
It is in particular a representative
of civil society, Rose Mutombo
, President of the consultation framework for Congolese women (CAFCO) who becomes Minister of Justice.
80% of newcomers to the government
So there is still a lot of duplication of portfolios or overlapping responsibilities when efficiency was also a criterion.
Only one in five ministers was part of the old team and those who are not reappointed come from both the presidential coalition and that of his predecessor.
Relatives of opponents Moïse Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba enter this government.
The two founders of the Lamuka coalition each take a post of deputy prime minister.
Christophe Lutundula, close to Moise Katumbi, takes the head of diplomacy.
As for Ève Bazaiba, secretary general of Jean-Pierre Bemba's MLC, she is responsible for environmental issues.
For the other two posts of Deputy Prime Minister, it is Jean-Pierre Lihau, the first to have slammed the door of the PPRD, Joseph Kabila's party to join the sacred union which is responsible for the public service and Asselo Okito Daniel who takes the portfolios of Interior, Security, Decentralization and Customary Affairs.
Special attention to the representativeness of women
In key positions, the ally from the start, Vital Kamerhe's UNC, keeps the Budget and has installed Aimé Boji, its secretary general, there.
Nicolas Kazadi, itinerant ambassador of Félix Tshisekedi, takes over the Finances.
The Ministry of Communication goes to Patrick Muyaya, member of the unified Lumumbiste party.
He is one of the personalities of the reformist group called G13.
Among the reasons that had delayed the announcement of this government, there was the criterion of representativeness of women.
They ultimately represent 27% of this government and some have key positions such as the vice-prime minister in charge of the Environment, Justice or Mines.
The 26 provinces of the country are represented.
►Also read: The DRC has a new government
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DRC
Felix Tshisekedi
Moses Katumbi
Jean-Pierre Bemba