DR Congo President appoints 1st country’s female prime ministe
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday appointed a female Prime Minister, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the president’s office announced, ending months of speculation.
Tuluka replaces Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde who resigned in March alongside his entire government team, following last December’s general election.
Tuluka, who served as the planning minister in the previous government is the first woman to hold the post of Prime Minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
She is a member of the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress Party (UDPS) of President Tshisekedi which won majority seats in the December parliamentary election.
She has the task of forming a new government with the various political forces that subscribe to the ruling coalition.
The new government is expected to be formed at a time of intensified fighting in eastern Congo, where large areas in territories of Rutshuru, Nyiragongo and Masisi have been occupied by the M23 rebels.
