DR Congo Cabinet Reshuffle Brings in Opposition Figures

 

Addis Ababa 10, 2025 (ENA)—President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, reshuffled parts of his government in a move that has long been awaited by the population following "political consultations" that were launched earlier in the year.

The changes are not radical at first view... but to observers, they are notable nonetheless.

The head of state notably brought in two opposition politicians: Adolphe Muzito, a former prime minister, was named vice prime-minister and will also be in charge of the budget.

And Floribert Anzuluni, leader of a minor opposition party, was named head of regional integration.

Several other officials remained in the government, but changed jobs, among them notably Eve Bazaiba, who transitioned from the environment ministry to social affairs, and Aimé Boji, permuted from the budget ministry to industry.

Judith Suminwa, meanwhile, remains prime minister.

The formation of the new cabinet followed political consultations at the beginning of the year, which was marked by a security crisis in the east of the country.

Rich in key minerals such as gold and coltan, eastern DRC has been riven by fighting between rival armed groups and interference by foreign powers for more than 30 years.

The region bordering Rwanda saw a fresh surge of violence this year when the M23 armed group, backed by Rwandan troops, captured the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.

After months of broken truces, the DRC and M23 signed a declaration of principle on June 19 reaffirming their commitment to a permanent ceasefire.

But fresh attacks on civilians by the M23 and other armed groups killed at least 319 civilians in July, UN rights chief Volker Turk said this week.

Violence in the region has left thousands dead, according to Kinshasa and the United Nations, and exacerbated a humanitarian crisis for hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

President Tshisekedi, in office since 2019, was re-elected in December 2023 with more than 73 percent of the vote, and parties in his coalition won around 90 percent of the seats in legislative elections held on the same day.

Newly appointed to the cabinet, Muzito and Anzuluni also ran in the 2023 presidential election as opposition candidates, garnering about one percent of the vote and less than a tenth of the vote respectively.

According to some analysts, these reshufflings be a way for the Congolese president to consolidate his party and reach a political consensus around his figure.

The next presidential election in the DRC is set for 2028.