Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo


The Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo was tasked with moving from the state riven by the Second Congo War to a government based upon a constitution agreed on by consensus. It was established by the Global and All-Inclusive agreement signed in December 2002. Joseph Kabila was sworn in as transitional president on 7 April 2003, with four vice presidents, and the cabinet took office on 30 June 2003. The Transitional Government remained in place until after the new constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was promulgated in February 2006 and a general election was held in December 2006. The transition ended when the new cabinet was installed on 5 February 2007.

Background

In January 2001, President Laurent Kabila was assassinated, and his son Joseph Kabila was named head of state. The younger Kabila restarted the negotiations that stalled after the 1999 Lusaka Peace Agreement. Peace talks took place between Congolese factions in Lusaka, Zambia, and in Pretoria and Sun City, South Africa.
In July 2002, the Pretoria Accord was signed on withdrawal of foreign forces. In October 2002, Joseph Kabila negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo. Two months later, the 'Global and All-Inclusive Agreement' was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity.
Prunier writes:
''For a few months after the signing of the Sun City Agreement, things had stagnated as the delegates to the Intra-Congolese Dialogue kept debating in Pretoria about how to turn the piece of paper they had signed into some kind of reality. On April 1, 2003, they finally adopted the draft constitution which had been presented to them on March 6, and they agreed upon the outline of a transitional government.''

History

On 7 April 2003, Joseph Kabila was sworn in as transitional president. And on the next day, the last of the four agreed vice-presidents was named, Azarias Ruberwa for the RCD-G. He joined Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi for Kabila's government; Jean-Pierre Bemba for the MLC; and Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma for the political opposition.
The first cabinet was announced on 1 July.
On 17 July 2003, the four vice-presidents of the DRC's two-year transitional government took the oath of office in Kinshasa, but a day later on 18 July, transitional government officials designated by the RCD-Goma and the MLC refused to take the oath of office because it included swearing allegiance to President Joseph Kabila.
Over the course of September, MONUC strengthened its presence in Ituri and launched the Bunia "weapon-free zone" mission to demilitarize the area; although it achieved partial results, violence continued to affect the region. On 11 June 2004, a renegade faction of the presidential guard led by Major Eric Lenge attempted a failed coup attempt against the transitional authorities.
By mid-2005, the government faced widespread protests across the DRC and within diaspora communities after the UDPS and other opposition groups denounced the automatic extension of the transition, accusing leaders of mismanagement and violating the Inter-Congolese Dialogue commitments. Demonstrations erupted in Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Goma, Kananga, Mwene-Ditu, and Tshikapa despite harsh repression that caused deaths and injuries. Abroad, Congolese protesters mobilized in Brussels, Paris, Pretoria, and London. In Belgium, police blocked several hundred marchers gathered outside the DRC embassy, dispersing them after they chanted anti-government slogans. In Paris, tensions rose as protesters confronted guests leaving an embassy reception. In Pretoria, Congolese marched peacefully against what they viewed as an illegitimate prolongation of the transition. In London, thousands rallied under the "Congolese Rights in the United Kingdom" platform, calling for the removal and delegitimization of the 1+4 transitional power-sharing government.
The transitional period came to end with the completion of the 2006 general election and the swearing in of Kabila as president on 6 December 2006, the start of the newly elected parliament in January 2007, and the new cabinet taking office in February 2007.

Composition

Ministers:
  • Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
  • * Antoine Ghonda Mangalibi
  • * Raymond Ramazani Baya
  • Land Affairs: Venant Tshipasa
  • Social Affairs:
  • * Ingele Ifoto
  • * Laurent-Charles Otete Omanga
  • Agriculture, Fishing, Livestock Farming:
  • * Justin Kangundu
  • * Constant Ndom Nda Ombel
  • * Paul Musafiri
  • Budget: François Muamba Tshishimbi
  • Foreign Trade:
  • * Roger Lumbala
  • * Chantal Ngalula Mulumba
  • Women's Status and Family: Faida Mwangilwa
  • International Cooperation :
  • * Banza Mulukayi
  • Regional Cooperation: Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi
  • Culture and Arts:
  • * Pierrette Gene Vungbo Yatalo
  • * Christophe Muzungu
  • * Philémon Mukendi
  • National Defense, Veterans, and Demobilization:
  • * Jean-Pierre Ondekane
  • * Adolphe Onusumba Yemba
  • Rural Development: Pardonne Kaliba Mulanga
  • Human Rights: Marie-Madeleine Kalala
  • Economy:
  • * Célestin Mvunabali
  • * Émile Ngoy Kasongo
  • * Floribert Bokanga
  • * Pierre Manoka
  • * Moïse Nyarugabo Muhizi Mugeyo
  • Energy:
  • * Kalema Lusona
  • * Pierre Muzumba Mwana Ombe
  • * Salomon Banamuhere
  • Primary and Secondary Education:
  • * Élysée Munembwe
  • * Constant Ndom Nda Ombel
  • * Paul Musafiri
  • Higher and University Education:
  • * Émile Ngoy Kasongo
  • * Joseph Mudumbi
  • * Théo Baruti
  • Environment and Nature Conservation: Anselme Enerunga
  • Finance:
  • * Modeste Mutombo Kyamakosa
  • * André-Philippe Futa Mudiumbula
  • * Marco Banguli
  • Civil Service:
  • * Gustave Tabezi
  • * Athanase Matenda Kyelu (11 July 2004