RDC: Sylvestre Ilunga Ilukamba’s Tall Order

Almost five months after Felix Tshisekedi won the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC’s presidential vote of December 30, 2018 and was sworn in on January 24, 2019, the country now has a new Prime Minister. Dr Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba was on May 20, 2019 appointed to form the next government by President Felix Tshisekedi on the proposal of former President Joseph Kabila. He replaces Bruno Tshibala who served Kabila. Kabila’s coalition holds the majority of seats in parliament, senate, provincial assemblies and governorship positions.

By law, the party with most deputies pro duces the Prime Minister. An economics lecturer and minister in a number of capacities under former President Mobutu Sese Seko, Ilunkamba was until recently head of the country’s railways, SNCC SA. His immediate task is to form a government of national unity. The task is most likely to be tricky, given that his appointment took long. This was because horse trading between Kabila’s Common Front for Congo, FCC coalition and Tshisekedi’s CACH coalition, took almost five months! The new PM will therefore be expected to ensure that the delicate alliance between Tshisekedi and Kabila is not rocked.

The DRC has been fragmented aft...