DR Congo president names Judith Suminwa Tuluka as first woman PM
Al Jazeera
Suminwa says she will work for peace and the development of the country, after being appointed by President Tshisekedi.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has appointed the country’s first-ever female prime minister, naming planning minister Judith Suminwa to the role.
An economist, she takes over as prime minister from Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, following Tshisekedi’s sweeping re-election as president on December 20.
Tshisekedi’s inauguration for a second term in January kick-started a lengthy search for a majority coalition in the National Assembly – a key step before a prime minister could be named and a government formed.
“I am aware of the great responsibility … We will work for peace and the development of the country,” Suminwa said on national television on Monday.
Tshisekedi officially triumphed with 73.47 percent of the vote in December, and the election passed largely peacefully in a country long torn by violence and instability.
