DR Congo president appoints new defense minister

KIGALI, Rwanda

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi appointed a new defense minister in a reshuffle announced on Friday, as the government struggles with insecurity in the eastern part of the country.

The reshuffle came nine months ahead of the next presidential election.

Jean-Pierre Bemba, former vice president in the early 2000s, was named the new defense minister, while Vital Kamerhe, former chief of staff of Tshisekedi, was appointed economy minister, according to an announcement made on national television.

Kamerhe was sentenced in 2020 to 20 years in prison for embezzlement before being acquitted on appeal in 2022.

Bemba, a former warlord, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his troops in the neighboring Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003, before being acquitted on appeal in 2018, after 10 years in prison.

Bemba assumes the Defense Ministry amid a government offensive against M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern North Kivu province.

The fighting has heightened tensions between Rwanda and the neighboring DR Congo government.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of backing the rebel group, a charge Rwanda consistently denies.

Harold Acema, a Uganda-based political analyst, said Tshisekedi’s appointment of Bemba “is politically a smart tactical and strategically good move which must and will send shivers down the spine of the rebels.”

“I hope the M23 rebels will now accept a peaceful, political and negotiated settlement to the internal conflict in DR Congo,” Acema, a retired diplomat, told Anadolu.

“DR Congo and the Great Lakes region need peace to enable meaningful economic and social development to take place for the benefit of all East Africans,” he said.

Tshisekedi’s Cabinet has 57 members. Tina Salama, the president's spokesperson said the reshuffle was “urgent and necessary.”

The reshuffle was highly anticipated to fill positions left by three ministers belonging to the party of businessman Moise Katumbi.

The Democratic Republic of Congo will hold the next presidential elections on Dec. 20, 2023.

Tshisekedi, who has been in power since January 2019, has announced he will seek reelection.

Raphael Nkaka, a Rwanda-based governance expert, described the reshuffle as “politically motivated.”

“Little consideration of expertise is observed in the appointments but key positions were awarded to close allies and senior politicians to draw voters from big constituencies,” he said.