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Congo’s Tshisekedi appoints new PM

Congo’s Tshisekedi appoints new PM

STANIS BUJAKERA CONGO President Felix Tshisekedi yesterday appointed the head of the state mining company Sama Lukonde Kyenge as the new prime minister, capping a series of victories for Tshisekedi over his once-dominant predecessor Joseph Kabila. Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, a close confidant of Kabila, resigned from the post on January 28 following a vote of no confidence in the Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament. The appointment of Lukonde, director general of Gecamines and an ally of the president, should help Tshisekedi install a more loyal cabinet to push through his agenda. In December, Tshisekedi announced he wanted to break free…
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Congo prime minister resigns

Congo prime minister resigns

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo's Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba resigned yesterday, the presidency said, a move that will enable President Felix Tshisekedi to rid the government of his predecessor's allies and push through his own policies. Democratic Republic of Congo's Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba. Picture: Alex Muamba/Flickr Ilunga, an ally of former President Joseph Kabila, stepped down after parliament passed a no-confidence motion on Wednesday, the latest in a series of political victories for Tshisekedi over Kabila in recent weeks. Ilunga "has just handed in his resignation," the presidency said on Twitter. "He said he had taken note of…
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Congo prime minister accepts no confidence vote, freeing president from alliance

Congo prime minister accepts no confidence vote, freeing president from alliance

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo's Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba has accepted parliament's vote of no confidence in his government, opening the way for President Felix Tshisekedi to appoint his loyalists to key ministries. The departure of Ilunga, an ally of former President Joseph Kabila, cements Tshisekedi's break from a power-sharing pact that had been forced on him when he came to power two years ago because Kabila's allies still controlled parliament. The awkward alliance, which forced Tshisekedi to bargain with his predecessor over any policy shift, added to challenges facing his government as it sought to quell violence in Congo's…
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Congo lawmakers pass no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Ilunga

Congo lawmakers pass no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Ilunga

LAWMAKERS in the Democratic Republic of Congo voted yesterday to oust Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, collapsing the government and handing President Felix Tshisekedi a chance to appoint loyalists to key ministries. Last month Tshisekedi moved to end a coalition formed with his predecessor Joseph Kabila that has constrained Tshisekedi's authority since he took office in January 2019. Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, 26 March 2019. Photo: Paul Kagame/flickr This culminated in Wednesday's no-confidence vote against the prime minister, one of the last vestiges of Kabila's hold on government. It passed with…
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Congo lawmakers move to force out prime minister

Congo lawmakers move to force out prime minister

HEREWARD HOLLAND A majority in Democratic Republic of Congo's lower house of parliament filed a motion of no confidence in the prime minister on Friday, a move likely to force the government's collapse and hand President Felix Tshisekedi a major political victory. The motion, which lawmaker Chérubin Okende said carried the signatures of more than 300 of the National Assembly's 500 members, gives Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba 48 hours to resign or face a no-confidence vote. Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, 26 March 2019. Photo: Paul Kagame/Flickr Last month, Tshisekedi…
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