By Daniel Peters
Congolese main opposition figures, leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) Felix Tshisekedi (R) and his running mate leader of the Union for the Congolese Nation (Union pour la Nation Congolaise, UNC) Vital Kamerhe(L)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has unveiled a new government, ending more than five months of deadlock following President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election.
The AFP reports that the announcement came less than two weeks after the country’s military said it had thwarted a coup attempt that saw armed men attack a Minister’s home before entering the Palais de la Nation that houses Tshisekedi’s offices in the capital, Kinshasa.
It also came at a time of renewed fighting in eastern DRC, where the Congolese army is trying to regain territory seized by Rwanda-backed M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels.
Announced around 02:00 am local time (0100 GMT) on Wednesday, the new government named Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita as the Defence Minister, a key post at a time when Congo faces a serious security crisis in the east.
In power, since 2019, Tshisekedi was re-elected in the first round of December Presidential election, with over 70 per cent of the vote, but his “Sacred Union of the Nation” platform was still unable to immediately form a government.
“It’s a coalition of different parties, there have been discussion, compromises”, said Erik Nyindu, Director of Communications for the presidency, explaining why the formation of the government had taken time.
