Sama Lukonde
Lukonde in 2021
Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Acting (20 Feb 2024)
Assumed office
26 April 2021
PresidentFélix Tshisekedi
Preceded bySylvestre Ilunga
Personal details
Born (1977-08-04) 4 August 1977 (age 46)
Paris, France
Political partyFuture of Congo

Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge (born 4 August 1977) is a Congolese politician from the former Katanga Province who has served as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2021,[1] and acting prime minister since 20 February 2024 until a new government is formed and is approved by the National Assembly.[2][3] He announced his first cabinet on 12 April 2021.[4] He is a member of the Future of Congo party.

Biography

Lukonde with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Kinshasa in August 2022.[5]

Lukonde was born on 4 August 1977, in Paris, and is an engineer by training.[6] He is the son of Stéphane Lukonde Kyenge, an important figure in the political scene of his native Katanga who was assassinated in 2001.[7]

After being active in politics as a member of the Avenir du Congo (English, Future of Congo) party, and becoming one of the youngest deputy at the National Assembly, Lukonde was named Minister of Youth, Sports, and Leisure in December 2014, during the Joseph Kabila Presidency.[7] He served in this position for 10 months, before resigning to support his party in their opposition to Kabila's bid for a third successive term as President.[7]

In June 2019, Lukonde became the Director-General of Gécamines: one of the largest mining companies in Africa, and the biggest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was appointed to this position by President Félix Tshisekedi in June 2019.[8] Prior to this position, he was also deputy general administrator of the Congo National Railway Company.[9]

He was named Prime Minister by Tshisekedi in February 2021.[10] He later named his cabinet.[11] On 20 February 2024, Lukonde tendered his resignation to President Tshisikedi[12] after he decided to join the National Assembly as a member from the Kasenga Territory, having won the seat during the general election of December 2023.[13] He is serving as acting prime minister until the formation of a new administration[14] to be led by former planning minister Judith Tuluka on 1 April 2024.[15]

References

  1. ^ "DR Congo's Tshisekedi names new PM after power struggle". France 24. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. ^ Muamba, Clément (21 February 2024). "RDC: Félix Tshisekedi n'a pas acté la démission du Premier ministre et son gouvernement". Actualite.cd (in French). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  3. ^ "EcoNews: « Après les "Warriors" de Sama : Bientôt le Gouvernement de "compétence professionnelle" ! »". Radio Okapi (in French). 3 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  4. ^ "DR Congo announces formation of new government". DW.COM. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Secretary Blinken's Travel to Cambodia, the Philippines, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda". United States Department of State. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. ^ "RDC : Qui est le nouveau Premier Ministre Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge ? -" (in French). 16 February 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "DRC: Tshisekedi appoints Sama Lukonde Kyenge as new PM". The Africa Report.com. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  8. ^ AfricaNews (15 February 2021). "Tshisekedi names Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde new DRC prime minister". Africanews. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  9. ^ archyde. "Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde appointed Prime Minister of the DRC". Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Congo president names new prime minister, increases control". Daily Herald. Associated Press. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  11. ^ archyde (15 February 2021). "Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde appointed Prime Minister of the DRC". Reuters. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. ^ "DR Congo PM Lukonde tenders his resignation, presidency says". Reuters. Associated Press. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  13. ^ "DR Congo government dissolved after prime minister resigns". Africanews. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  14. ^ "DR Congo government dissolved after prime minister resigns". Africanews. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Congo Appoints Judith Tuluka Suminwa as New Prime Minister". Bloomberg.com. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
Political offices Preceded bySylvestre Ilunga Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2021–present Incumbent
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