DR Congo parliament votes to remove PM in win for president Thursday, 28 January 2021 8:39 AM
[ Last Update: Thursday, 28 January 2021 10:21 AM ] Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, the prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have voted to remove Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba from office, handing President Felix Tshisekedi a key victory in his bid to sideline the allies of his predecessor.
The DR Congo’s National Assembly approved a no-confidence motion against Ilunga Ilunkamba by 367 votes to seven on Wednesday, forcing the premier to step down within 24 hours.
The vote came against a backdrop of a months-long power struggle that pitched Tshisekedi against loyalists to former president Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DR Congo for 18 years.
Vanguard News
DR Congo parliament debates move on govt resignation
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DR Congo Parliament. PHOTO: Wikipedia
Parliament in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday began to debate a motion calling for the resignation of the government, a key step in President Felix Tshisekedi’s bid to sideline supporters of his powerful predecessor.
A majority of the 333 legislators present in the National Assembly approved a debate on a motion to censure the government of Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, an ally of former president Joseph Kabila.
The political scene in sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest country has been roiled by a months-long struggle between Tshisekedi and Kabila supporters.
DR Congo parliament votes out pro-Kabila PM
By AFP
JAN 27, 2021
Felix Tshisekedi (L) took over from Joseph Kabila (R) after elections in December 2018. It was DR Congo s first-ever peaceful transition, but failed to avert a power struggle between their supporters. By Tchandrou Nitanga, TONY KARUMBA (AFP/File)
DR Congo lawmakers on Wednesday approved a motion to force out Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, handing President Felix Tshisekedi a key victory in his bid to sideline allies of his predecessor.
The National Assembly approved a motion of censure against Ilunga Ilunkamba and his government by 367 votes to seven.
Under the Democratic Republic of Congo s constitution, parliamentary censure requires the prime minister to step down within 24 hours.
Legislators in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have voted to remove Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, collapsing the government and handing President Felix Tshisekedi a chance to appoint loyalists to key ministries.
Wednesday’s vote marks the latest episode in a power struggle that has roiled sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest nation for months, pitching Tshisekedi against loyalists to former president Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC for 18 years.
Last month Tshisekedi moved to end a coalition formed with Kabila that has constrained his authority since he took office in January 2019.
This culminated in Wednesday’s no-confidence vote against the prime minister, one of the last vestiges of Kabila’s hold on government. It passed with 367 of 377 votes.