PREVIEW
Weakened president brings veterans and youthful rival into government
President Félix Tshisekedi has gone for a broad coalition in a major reshuffle that brings in opposition politicians, senior former ministers and parastatal bosses.
The return of former premier Adolphe Muzito as Vice Prime Minister and Budget Minister brings one of the political ‘godfathers’ of Tshisekedi’s administration back into government (AC Vol 64 No 20, Oppositionists vie for the presidency). Floribert Anzuluni, meanwhile, a youth activist who ran against Tshisekedi in the 2023 elections on an anti-corruption ticket but polled fewer than 11,000 votes, has been named Minister for Regional Integration.
Eyebrows will be raised at Louis Watam’s appointment as Minister of Mines. A mining industry veteran, Watam was one of the directors of Primera Group, a United Arab Emirates-based company that was awarded 'exclusive rights' over Congo-K's entire artisanal gold, tin, tungsten and coltan production until 2048 by Tshisekedi in December 2022 (AC Vol 64 No 13, Tshisekedi gives away gold rights to UAE). The concession was criticised by Congolese civil society actors for offering extremely generous terms to Primera and shutting out a local state-owned refinery, Kamoa Copper.
The reshuffle had been long-expected as part of a dialogue process promised by Tshisekedi. His authority remains seriously weakened by the incursions into North and South Kivu by the M23 militia group and the Rwandan army earlier this year, and he will need support in peace talks with Kigali brokered by the United States and Qatar.
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