DR Congo Parliament Votes Out Pro-Kabila PM
Sumaira FH Published January 28, 2021 | 05:01 PM
DR Congo lawmakers on Wednesday approved a motion to force out Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, handing President Felix Tshisekedi a key victory in his bid to sideline allies of his predecessor
Kinshasa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2021 ) :DR Congo lawmakers on Wednesday approved a motion to force out Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, handing President Felix Tshisekedi a key victory in his bid to sideline allies of his predecessor.
The National Assembly approved a motion of censure against Ilunga Ilunkamba and his government by 367 votes to seven.
Under the Democratic Republic of Congo's constitution, parliamentary censure requires the prime minister to step down within 24 hours.
The vote marks the latest episode in a power struggle that has roiled sub-Saharan Africa's biggest nation for months, pitching Tshisekedi against loyalists to former president Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC for 18 years.
On taking office in January 2019, Tshisekedi agreed to a power-sharing agreement with the pro-Kabila camp, which wielded a majority in the 500-seat National Assembly.
But tensions quickly developed, before erupting into the open last year.
They climaxed with an announcement by Tshisekedi on December 6 that he was putting an end to the coalition and would seek a new "national majority of sacred union" -- a move that led to brawls among MPs in the National Assembly building a few days later.
Ilunga Ilunkamba was absent from Wednesday's debate as were other pro-Kabila cabinet members, but pro-Tshisekedi ministers attended.
On Monday, the prime minister flew to the city of Lubumbashi, in southeastern DRC, for talks with Kabila.
In a letter posted on his office's website, Ilunga Ilunkamba hit out at the National Assembly's provisional bureau, which oversees parliamentary procedure.
He lashed the "notorious motion of censure" as "no more than a political manoeuvre with no basis in fact, flouting the requirements of the state of law." He accused the bureau of lacking the legal authority to enable debate on the motion.
The debate was scheduled to have started on Tuesday, but was postponed by a day.
Tshisekedi won a controversial presidential election on December 30 2018 on a platform vowing to fight corruption, reduce inequalities and improve government.
But he says his campaign of reform has been thwarted by Kabila's lieutenants, who account for two-thirds of the vast 65-member coalition government.
Still only 49 years old despite his 18 years in office, Kabila retains clout through allies in politics, the military and business.
He took the helm of the DRC in 2001, succeeding his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, after he was assassinated by a bodyguard.
The younger Kabila's rule was fiercely criticised for corruption and poor governance.
But it ended peacefully when he stepped down, in the DRC's first-ever bloodless transition since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
BISP embraces E-procurement: launches inaugural tender
Modi govt broken all records of oppression to win elections: President AJK
PM for further strengthening economic, trade ties with Turkiye
Administrative machinery actively checking price, weight of roti/naan: minister
Advisor asks tourists to avoid visiting Kaghan during current rains
Business community indebted to Ahsan Zafar for his unprecedented services: Yousu ..
Three Filipinos dead in UAE floods: officials
DC Larkana chairs meeting to review strategy for anti-Polio drive
Registration process under BISP continues in Sargodha
QAU announces scholarships for KP students
Prisoner commits suicide in Timergara Jail
RCB takes action against selling expired food items
More Stories From World
-
Three Filipinos dead in UAE floods: officials
24 minutes ago -
Global calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
19 minutes ago -
Iran blasts rattle global markets
50 minutes ago -
H5N1 strain of bird flu found in milk: WHO
50 minutes ago -
Court aims to wrap Trump jury selection ahead of opening arguments
2 hours ago -
Croatia top court bars president from becoming next PM
1 hour ago
-
Hindu nationalist Modi the favourite as India votes
2 hours ago -
French police surround Iran consulate in Paris: security source
2 hours ago -
Blinken says US 'not involved in any offensive operation'
2 hours ago -
Beijing half marathon runners stripped of medals after controversial finish
3 hours ago -
Sudanese rue shattered dreams as war enters second year
3 hours ago -
Eight killed in Russian strikes
3 hours ago