Judith Suminwa Tuluka, planning minister of The Democratic Republic of Congo has been appointed as the Central African nation’s first woman Prime Minister.
She takes over as Prime Minister from Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, following President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election on December 20.
Speaking, Tula said the “task is big, the challenges are immense but together… we will get there”.
“I am aware of the great responsibility that is mine,” she added, saying she wanted to work “for peace and development” so that the “Congolese people can benefit from the resources” of the country.
Tshisekedi won the election with 73.47 per cent and the vote passed largely peacefully in a country long torn by violence and instability.
However, opposition branded the election as fraudulent.
The new prime minister will be tasked with pushing the president’s declared promises of employment, youth, women and national cohesion for the nation of about 100 million people.
He first became president in 2019 promising to improve living conditions in the DR Congo – which boasts mineral riches but has a largely impoverished population – and put an end to 25 years of bloodshed in the east.
The President failed to keep those promises but campaigned for a second term on his “achievements” such as free primary medication, asking for another mandate to “consolidate” the progress.
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