🔴 Tshisekedi cabinet changes
âž¡ Defence: Jean Pierre Bemba
âž¡ Interior: Peter Kazadi
âž¡ Finance: Vital Kamerhe
âž¡ Foreign Affairs: Christophe Lutundula
âž¡ Public Service: Jean Pierre Lihau Ebua
Kinshasa, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | Faced with the uncertainity of an election in December, and rebel activity by the M23 in the south east, Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has brought back strongman Jean-Pierre Bemba onto his side as defence minister.
The former DRC Vice president and ex-rebel leader had a war crimes conviction by the International Criminal Court overturned in 2018 after 11 years in exile and prison.
His appointment was part of an overhaul of the 57 members of government announced on Congo’s national television late on Thursday.
#RDC: Sont nommés VPM
🚨 Intérieur: Peter Kazadi
🚨Défense Nationale: Jean Pierre Bemba
🚨 Économie Nationale: Vital Kamerhe
🚨Affaires Étrangères: Christophe Lutundula
🚨Fonction Publique: Jean Pierre Lihau Ebua. pic.twitter.com/LoTnQ2L5uh
— Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala (@StanysBujakera) March 24, 2023
Bemba was disqualified from contesting in the 2018 polls that brought in Tshisekedi in a narrow win over Martin Fayulu.
Joseph Kabila stepped down as President then, and is said to have backed Tshisekedi for the top job in a historic peaceful change of power in the DRC.
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J'ai obtenu ce jour ma carte d'électeur, tout en invitant la population en âge de voter, de toutes les provinces, à s'enrôler massivement. C'est un exercice citoyen, capital pour déterminer l'avenir de notre pays. pic.twitter.com/hNrcSEyRW2
— Jean Pierre Bemba (@bembajp) January 4, 2023