The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde has resigned from his position after three years at the helm choosing, instead, to focus on parliamentary duties as an elected legislator.
Lukonde, 46, handed his official resignation to President Félix Tshisekedi, according the DRC Presidency.He is the son of Stéphane Lukonde Kyenge, an important figure in the political scene of his native Katanga who was assassinated in 2001. Lukonde was named Minister of Youth, Sports, and Leisure in December 2014, during the Joseph Kabila Presidency. Lukonde tendered his resignation to President Felix Tshisekedi eight days after the validation of his mandate as a national deputy. He will now join parliament as a member of the assembly. After he was re-elected in December, Tshisekedi named a representative to identify a majority coalition within the National Assembly with a view to forming the next government. The President has, however, imposed restrictions on Mr Lukonde and his team, including the suspension of service missions, the suspension of financial commitments and the suspension of all recruitment.
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The presidency said It did not specify Lukonde’s reasons for resigning.
His resignation comes after the validation of his mandate to serve as the National Deputy representing Kasenga Constituency.
Lukonde had been appointed prime minister in 2021, succeeding ex-PM Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, who resigned after legislators passed a vote of no confidence against him and his government.
Lukonde was appointed head of government following the collapse of the coalition between ex-President Joseph Kabila and Tshisekedi.
His exit came just over a week after the DRC Constitutional Court declared the incompatibility of government and legislative functions, directing ministers, provincial governors, and members of political cabinets who are also elected in legislative elections to resign from their political positions unless they give up their electoral mandate.
A total of 39 Congolese government ministers were recently elected members of parliament. They will serve for the next five years. Earlier, the deputy prime minister in charge of the economy and the deputy prime minister in charge of the civil service had already tendered their resignations. President Tshisekedi is preparing to form a new government to begin his second term. Some of the resigning ministers will likely be part of the new team, given that they belong to the parliamentary majority, President Tshisekedi’s coalition. They will have to resign from their positions as legislators. Unlike his first term, when he was forced to share power with Kabila’s coalition, this time Mr Tshisekedi is not expected to face strong opposition. His majority in parliament is expected to be over 400 of the 500 seats in the national assembly.
The DRC presidency was silent on whether the move was informed by the February 8 Constitutional Court decision.
Under DRC’s Constitution last amended in 2011, the Prime Minister shares the leadership of the executive branch of government with the President. The role of the Prime Minister includes advising the president on executive tasks, ensuring the execution of laws, and regulatory powers.
Article 78 of the DRC Constitution dictates that the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister from within the parliamentary majority after consultations.
The role of the Prime Minister includes advising the president on executive tasks, ensuring the execution of laws, and regulatory powers.
Lukonde’s resignation comes at a time when the Congolese army is currently battling the M23 Tutsi-led rebels, who have continued to wreak havoc in the Eastern DRC amid calls for the cessation of hostilities.
Rwanda’s involvement in the ongoing conflict has also been brought into focus, with the United States and the European Union calling for a de-escalation.
On February 18, Rwanda, however, demanded the demobilisation and repatriation of the DRC-backed Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group as a condition to de-escalate a simmering conflict with Kinshasa.
The resignation comes after France said earlier it was “very concerned” about the situation in the eastern part of DRC and called on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 rebel group, which has recently stepped up its offensive.
Kigali made the demand after the United States called on Rwanda to immediately withdraw its troops from the DRC and remove its surface-to-air missile systems, citing concerns over civilian safety and commercial flight operations in eastern DRC.
President Paul Kagame maintained that he will not back down, emphasizing that DRC support for FDLR “is a matter of state policy, not the choice of individual actors.”
“Ending Congolese state support for FDLR, and ensuring their demobilization and repatriation to Rwanda, is a non-negotiable requirement to protect Rwanda’s territorial integrity and guarantee the preservation of our hard-won national unity for future generations,” he said, asserting that Rwanda reserves the right to take any legitimate measures to defend itself so long as the threat exists.
Kagame has been strengthening his military position on the border with DRC amid mounting tension with President Felix Tshisekedi’s regime.
He has accused the DRC of collaborating with FDLR to expel M23 rebels and Congolese Tutsi civilians into neighboring countries, exacerbating regional instability.
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