Sama Lukonde Resigns as DRC Prime Minister Hours After Kagame’s Plea
One day after Rwandan President Paul Kagame appealed for the recommencement of peace negotiations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Prime Minister of the DRC, Sam Lukonde, submitted his resignation.
Kagame expressed disappointment over the abandonment of the Nairobi Process, led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Despite advocating for dialogue between the M23 rebels in North Kivu and Felix Tshikidedi’s administration in Kinshasa, Kagame regretted the discontinuation of the initiative.
On Tuesday, Lukonde submitted his resignation to Tshikidedi, effectively disbanding his government and jeopardizing the dialogue process that Kagame had been advocating for.
“Rwanda is deeply concerned by the abandonment of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes by DRC, and by the international community’s indifference to DRC’s dramatic military build-up,” Kagame’s government had issued a statement hours before Lukonde’s resignation.
While Tshikidedi promised not to confront M23 rebels, Lukonde was seen as sharing Kagame’s perspective on resolving the deadlock in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In June 2023, during a meeting led by Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, Lukonde expressed support for a dialogue initiative.
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At that moment, he expressed confidence in the dedication of the DRC administration to the peace process and commended Uhuru for his endeavors to reconcile the conflicting parties.
Following Lukonde’s departure, Rwandan mainstream media associated his resignation from the position of Prime Minister with the ongoing conflict.
“His resignation comes at a time the government faces mounting pressure to engage in dialogue with M23 rebels in the country’s eastern region,” the New Times (Rwanda) reported.
The DRC presidency issued a statement that contradicted the claim, asserting that Lukonde had resigned to take up a position in the National Assembly as a member of parliament. Additionally, Tshikidedi urged Lukonde’s government to carry on managing ongoing matters until a new administration is established.
Before stepping down, Lukonde held the position of Prime Minister for a duration of three years.
The communication department of Kenya’s 4th President, responsible for managing Uhuru Kenyatta’s messages, has not yet issued a response to Lukonde’s resignation.
Sama Lukonde Resigns as DRC Prime Minister Hours After Kagame’s Plea
