After four months of waiting, the Congo has a new Prime Minister: Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba as a compromise between the new President, Félix Tshisekedi and the old ruler Joseph Kabila.
The new head of government belongs to the party Alliance “Common Front for the Congo” (FCC) of the former President, Joseph Kabila. His appointment is controversial. Because it is part of a political agreement between the new President, Félix Tshisekedi, and the old rulers of Kabila.
Benno Müchler, head of the foreign office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the DR Congo, holds the appointment of Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkambas for a “result of a serious tug-of-war, in which, in the end, none could prevail.” Although Tshisekedi, who took over in January, the presidency had rejected several proposals of Kabila’s for the Prime Minister, for example, Albert Yuma, Kabila’s favorites, the stand for a continuation of the increasingly authoritarian regime of Kabila. But a private man, he could not prevail. Because of Kabila’s party, the Alliance FCC has a large majority in Parliament: It holds 342 of 485 seats. Tshisekedis grouping of the “rate change” (CACH) has only 50 members.
Félix Tshisekedi (left) at his inauguration in January of the previous Joseph Kabila
Kabila continues to be on the longer lever?
In view of this majority, the President had announced in March a coalition between the two groupings. Fears were loud, this Alliance between the former archenemies will lead to the former in power, Kabila will keep continue to take the reins in the Congo in the Hand. For Benno Müchler this is not set yet. While Kabila’s camp had the majority in Parliament and the Senate, but the President is ultimately the Executive power. “How good Tshisekedi, with the inclusion of the Prime Minister and the new government can lead, time will tell,” says Müchler.
The biggest challenge will be for Ilunga, therefore, is the balance between the FCC and the CACH balance. In the state television RTNC he said he considered his appointment as “a great responsibility in this crucial Moment in the history of our country.” Ilunga is the successor of the previous heads of government of Bruno Tshibala. This was submitted on Monday his resignation to President Félix Tshisekedi.
“Balancing and tolerated”
Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, whose age is sometimes given with 72 years of age, sometimes at 78 years of age, was born in the former province of Katanga. He was until recently managing Director of the National railway society of Congo (SNCC). Previously, he was Executive Director of the National steering Committee for the Reform of public enterprises (COPIREP).
For almost 40 years, Ilunga is in the policy. He was an Advisor to the dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, and between 1980 and 1987, under whose presidency several times Minister and Deputy Minister. The Ph. D. economist is a member of the people’s party for reconstruction and democracy (PPRD), which was established in 2002 by Joseph Kabila. In a press release, the FCC referred to him as “experts”. Pius Muabilu, a member of the FCC, describes him as a balance character, and friendly people. “He is not one who goes to the Extreme,” says Muabilu in an Interview with DW. Ilunga bring a lot of experience. Now we must wait for his work.
Miss management of the national railway company
Significant financial difficulties of the national railway company has not received Ilunga as its Director, however, is in the handle. And so the Opposition doubts his abilities, the necessary economic recovery in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yves Kitumba, a spokesman for the opposition Alliance Lamuka, says that Ilunga had shown no “eloquent Management” in the SNCC. “We Lamuka keep this appointment for a Non-event. Because it means continuity for the FCC Regime, including its mismanagement and the poor choice of its leaders.”
So Social Media Users called the distance between the President and Premier on the official photos indicative. The first challenge for the new Prime Minister will be to form a government that makes both camps happy. At the same time, the Congolese people expected a political change: their continuous protests is not due to Kabila in December 2018, after 18 years of government to the choice.
Opposition politician Moise Katumbi has returned after three years in his home city of Lubumbashi
“The solution to the brake pad”
If this change come, will show soon, says Benno Müchler. The appointment of the Prime Minister was”, so to speak, the solution to the brake pad”. Now it is a question of how good this game between the two sides could work. “Whether it actually can be able to get the country forward. Or whether Kabila – what do you believe can prevent that Tshisekedi is a successful President, and the country is at a standstill holds.”
A few hours prior to the appointment of the new Prime Minister had returned on Monday Moïse Katumbi, one of the great leader of the opposition, after three years in exile in the Congo. On his return, there are different assessments. The AFP news Agency about speculation that he is the Opposition to the Team Tshisekedi could give Kabila. Benno Müchler of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in contrast, considers him to be a power politician who could even compete in the new Cabinet position of Minister. It was clear that he was going to play in the Congolese politics as before.