DRC: Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde presents his program to the Assembly
The People's Palace, building of the Congolese Parliament (DRC).
RFI / Sonia Rolley
Text by: RFI Follow
6 mins
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the first government of the Sacred Union was invested on Monday, April 26.
410 deputies voted for out of the 412 deputies present.
This government coalition is the largest in the country.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde presented a three-year action program.
Estimated cost: $ 36 billion per year.
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With our special correspondent in Kinshasa,
Sonia Rolley
During his general policy statement, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama was also expected on security, which has recently become a real political issue.
Faced with insecurity in eastern DRC, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde asked for a minute's silence and assured that his government would make ending the massacres in the east a priority.
Among the flagship measures, there is the idea of declaring a state of emergency in certain parts of the country and letting military authorities replace civilian authorities.
#RDC #UnionSacree: @LukondeSama talks about the dead in the East, of people suffering from “calamities” elsewhere.
The PM asks for a minute's silence.
“Our country is at a crossroads”
- Sonia Rolley (@soniarolley) April 26, 2021
He also said he heard the anger of these populations in the East with regard to MONUSCO.
He promised that his government would make an assessment of its action with the UN Security Council and recalled that the withdrawal process was underway.
Security is therefore one of the components of this program which should take the DRC to the elections of 2023. According to Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, it will take 12 billion dollars each year to implement it.
By comparison, the budget so far planned was less than 7 billion, with a mobilization of revenues that rarely exceeds 5 billion.
The head of government of the Sacred Union has promised, there will be a budgetary collective which will make it possible to specify the details of his actions.
But he promised a lot, as we have said.
He promised to give the means to the army to fight in the east of the country, but also to the justice and in particular to the magistrates so that they can render decisions everywhere in the country and to the agents of the State to improve their living conditions.
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde also promised that funds would be set aside each year to pay for the 2023 elections. He also defended the need to organize a population census and provide identity cards to all.
And to achieve all these promises by 2023, the Prime Minister assures that the DRC would only lack $ 14 billion.
He said he was counting both on internal revenue mobilization and on assistance from Congo's partners, including the International Monetary Fund.
#RDC #UnionSacree: @LukondeSama says that the 3-year program should cost 36 billion dollars and he therefore counts among other things also on the signing of a program with the IMF for 1.6 billion.
- Sonia Rolley (@soniarolley) April 26, 2021
Reservations and criticisms
Despite the investiture almost unanimously, this program and this budget aroused reservations and criticism from the gallery as in the corridors of the People's Palace.
Are they unrealistic?
Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde had taken the lead and responded to it in his speech.
The task of your government, whose program I had the honor to present, is not to remake the world but rather to put in place effective governance.
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, Prime Minister of the DRC
Sonia rolley
#RDC #UnionSacree: an opposition MP comments: "no figures, no indicators, a string of good intentions"
- Sonia Rolley (@soniarolley) April 26, 2021
Read also: DRC: the main lines of the program of the new Prime Minister
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