Democratic Republic of Congo planning minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka has become the African country’s first female prime minister, state television announced.
He succeeded as prime minister from Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, following President Felix Tshisekedi’s victory in a landslide election on December 20.
Tuluka said on national television “the task is big, the challenge is big but together… we will achieve it”.
“I am aware of the great responsibility I bear,” he added, saying he wanted to work “for peace and development” so that “the Congolese people can benefit from the resources” of the country.
Tshisekedi officially won the election in December with 73.47% of the vote and voting took place peacefully in a country hit by violence and instability.
The opposition called the election a sham. Voting was officially extended by one day due to logistical problems and polling stations remained open for several days in remote areas.
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The party supporting Tshisekedi won more than 90% of the seats in parliament, allowing him to pass legislation easily.
The new prime minister will be tasked with pushing forward the priorities announced by the president of jobs, youth, women and national unity for a country with a population of around 100 million people.
Tshisekedi became president in 2019 on a promise to improve living conditions in DR Congo and end 25 years of conflict in the east.
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Tshisekedi had little impact on those promises but campaigned for a second term on accomplishments such as free delivery of basic medicines.
According to the United Nations (UN), around seven million people have been displaced by the conflict in DR Congo, one of the poorest countries in the world.
The security situation is deteriorating in North Kivu province where the Rwandan-backed rebel group, M23, has seized large areas over the past two years.
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After eight years of inactivity, the M23 insurgency returned to arms in late 2021, seizing most of eastern North Kivu province – cutting off land access to Goma except for the Rwandan border road in early February.
The World Health Organization also issued a warning last month over the deteriorating health situation in the country, with cholera, measles, smallpox, anthrax and other outbreaks wreaking havoc.
The health crisis is being exacerbated by violence, climate shocks, displacement, poverty and malnutrition, WHO said, while calling for an urgent surge in funding.
The 15,000 UN troops stationed in the DRC began leaving the country in late February, at the request of the Kinshasa government. The withdrawal is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. (AFP/Z-3)
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