The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Félix Tshisekedi has appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the new Prime Minister – the country's first female one.
In a televised speech on Sunday evening, Tshisekedi announced that Tuluka – Planning Minister in the previous government – would take over as head of government from Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, who resigned in February.
With Tuluka's appointment, Tshisekedi ended three months of uncertainty and difficult government negotiations, after the elections at the end of December 2023. However, it could take weeks or even months before a new government is formed: the coalition that brought the president back to power (the Union Sacrée) consists of dozens of competing parties.
Who is Judith Suminwa Tuluka?
Tuluka comes from the west of the DRC, obtained a master's degree in applied economics at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) in Belgium and now has the difficult task of starting Tshisekedi's second term in office.
In her opening speech, Tuluka said she would work for peace and development and referred to the conflict in eastern Congo.
“My thoughts go out to the east and all corners of the country where conflicts are ongoing with enemies who are sometimes hidden," she said, referring to neighbouring country Rwanda, which has been accused of military interference by Congo and many other countries.
The conflict in the east of the DRC will therefore likely be one of the most important challenges for Tuluka; Tshisekedi had already promised to bring peace during his first term in office, but the army is unable to control the M23 rebels.
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In recent months, M23 seized increasingly larger parts of the North Kivu province, on the border with Rwanda. The DRC is receiving assistance from the UN mission MONUSCO, regional peacekeepers and pro-government militias, but the situation is not improving.
Tshisekedi also promised to create jobs, diversify the economy, develop agriculture and increase purchasing power, and Tuluka realises that she faces a difficult task: "I know the task is big and the challenges are enormous, but together we will get there."
