Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s Prime Minister announced a new Cabinet on Monday, completing a government overhaul by President Felix Tshisekedi that strengthens his hold on power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new government is a further blow to Tshisekedi\u2019s predecessor and former coalition partner, Joseph Kabila, who stepped down in January 2019 but maintained control of some ministries, the legislature, judiciary and security services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since announcing the end of their alliance in December, Tshisekedi has succeeded in replacing Kabila\u2019s allies at the head of the parliament and senate, as well as the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, himself appointed in February, named economist Nicolas Kazadi as finance minister, former civil society activist Antoinette N\u2019Samba Kalambayi as mining minister and retired general Daniel Aselo Okito as interior minister, said Tshisekedi\u2019s spokesman Kasongo Mwema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than a quarter of the 56-member Cabinet are under 40 years old, and only 10 have been re-appointed, Lukonde told journalists after the announcement. The presence of many lesser-known figures suggests a desire for control from above, political analysts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ministerial appointments likely indicate a top-heavy policymaking model,\u201d said Indigo Ellis from Africa Matters, a risk consultancy firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government includes allies of Moise Katumbi and Jean-Piere Bemba, two political heavyweights whose support Tshisekedi relied upon to unseat Kabila loyalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Katumbi and Bemba remain outside government. They may become challengers when Tshisekedi seeks to renew his mandate in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBoth will therefore retain a significant level of autonomy and if necessary distance themselves from government policy,\u201d said Alexandre Raymakers, senior Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTheir allegiance to the president is in many ways circumstantial, and dictated by conditions or a desire to curtail Kabila\u2019s influence and power. Not exactly the most solid foundations for a reformist government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reuters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s Prime Minister announced a new Cabinet on Monday, completing a government overhaul by President Felix Tshisekedi that strengthens his hold on power. The new government is a further blow to Tshisekedi\u2019s predecessor and former coalition partner, Joseph Kabila, who stepped down in January 2019 but maintained control of some ministries, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":23065,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[356,98],"tags":[31],"class_list":["post-23064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-big-story","category-news","tag-featured"],"yoast_head":"\n