DRC: Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge defends his record on television
Sama Lukonde Kyenge was appointed Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by President Félix Tshisekedi on February 15, 2021 © Youtube channel screenshot Sama Lukonde
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4 min
Prime Minister Sama Lukonde's government totaled 100 days on Wednesday, August 4.
A thanksgiving mass was organized in Kinshasa in the presence of the President of the Republic and his Prime Minister.
Then the latter took stock of his action, during a special broadcast on public television RTNC.
Publicity
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With our correspondents in Kinshasa,
Sonia Rolley
and
Patient Ligodi
Glasses in place, on an educational tone, brandishing statistics and graphics, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge was optimistic.
The foundations have been launched and the course traced, he wants to believe.
► Also read:
Patrick Muyaya (DRC): "the first 100 days have allowed us to have a dashboard"
On the economic level, he put to the credit of his government, the stabilization of the GDP and the exchange rate.
He also cited economic growth which, according to the figures presented, would have increased from 1.7% in 2020 to 4.9% in 2021.
On the political level, he kicked in the question on the bill limiting access to the presidency of the Republic to candidates born of Congolese father and mother.
“
We are better off focusing on the issues that unite us than on those that divide us
,” he said.
Regarding the issue of the population census, it is the top priority, he swears.
For those who believe that this is a maneuver not to organize the elections in 2023, Sama Lukonde maintains that now is the right time to launch the operation without tying it to the electoral issue.
Regarding the political consultations requested by the opponents, he did not strongly oppose it, but returned the ball to the head of state.
Subjects that divide the Sacred Union
Even within the executive, no more dissensions, sometimes even public, between ministers.
The Sama Lukonde government is showing its cohesion, despite the transfer to its team of former FCC Joseph Kabila and former members of the opposition, all formerly enemies.
The label of the Sacred Union was easily adopted.
During the recent government seminar, President Félix Tshisekedi insisted on respecting this government cohesion in order to obtain results.
He asked his ministers to avoid partisan positions, or to try to satisfy "
the whims of any moral authority whatsoever
."
Will the members of this government be able to maintain this cohesion when subjects divide?
Almost all of them relate to the electoral process: the population census as a prerequisite for the elections, the appointment of members of the electoral commission and even the proposed Tshiani law which limits access to the presidential office to Congolese with two Congolese parents.
► Read also:
Designation of the Ceni in the DRC: dissensions within the Sacred Union
It must be said that some leaders of the Sacred Union, like the former governor Moïse Katumbi, do not hide their presidential ambition.
As a minister summed it up: the Sacred Union is an anti-Kabila coalition that will hardly be able to become, in this form in any case, the electoral platform of Félix Tshisekedi for 2023.
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