The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: Premier-ministre de la République démocratique du Congo, Swahili: Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo, Lingala: Minisele ya Yambo wa Republiki ya Kɔ́ngɔ Demokratiki) , is Congo's Head of Government. The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: , Swahili: , Lingala: ) , is Congos elected Head of State, and the ex officio Supreme Commander (Commander-in-Chief) of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). ... Joseph Kabila Kabange (born June 4, 1971), known commonly as Joseph Kabila, became president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the assassination of his father Laurent-Désiré Kabila in January 2001. ... Antoine Gizenga (born 5 October 1925) is a Congolese (DRC) politician, and the Prime Minister of the country since December 30, 2006. ... External Links Parlement de la Republique Democratique du Congo, Official Site ... ... Composition of the National Assembly This politics-related article is a stub. ... This article details the various political parties in the the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ... Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Congo (Kinshasa) gives information on election and election results in Congo (Kinshasa). ... General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 30, 2006, the first multiparty elections in the country in 46 years. ... Main article: Subdivisions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo See also : List of Provincial Governors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Future provinces from the 2005 Constitution 25 provinces and the capital city Kinshasa The 2005 Congolese 2005 Congolese Constitution (article 2) creates 25 new provinces, alongside the... Territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Main article: Subdivisions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are divided into 129 territories (fr. ... The Mission of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), abbreviated MONUC (a French acronym for Mission de l Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo) is a United Nations peacekeeping force established on February 24, 2000, by Resolution 1291 of the United... Its location in the center of Africa has made DROC a key player in the region since independence. ... Following the end of the Second Congo War, transitional institutions were established, comprising of the former warring parties, as well as representatives of the non-belligerent opposition, and representatives of the civil society. ... Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Stub: In 2001 President Luarent Kabila was assasinated and his son Joseph Kabila was named head of state. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Swahili (also called Kiswahili; see below for derivation) is a Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa. ... Lingala is a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) and a large part of the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), as well as to some degree in Angola and the Central African Republic. ... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ...

History

The position of Prime minister was already present in the first government after independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the first and very popular Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba. Over the years te position's powers and attributions have varied widely, and there were long periods of time under the Mobutu Sese Seko, and the period following First Congo War, where the position was abolished. Patrice Lumumba as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1960 Patrice Émery Lumumba (2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961) was an African anti-colonial leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after he helped to win its independence... Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa za Banga (October 14, 1930 – September 7, 1997), known commonly as Mobutu, or Joseph Mobutu-Sese Seko, born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) for 32 years (1965–1997). ... Combatants AFDL, Uganda, Rwanda Zaire Commanders Laurent-Désiré Kabila Mobutu Sésé Seko Casualties Civilians killed: 200,000+ The First Congo War was a conflict from late 1996 to 1997 in which Zairean President Mobutu Sésé Seko was overthrown by rebel forces backed by foreign powers such as...

Aside from the Lumumba government, the Congo (DRC) has known several powerful figures in the position, such as Moise Tshombe who had previously led a secession of his native Katanga province, and Etienne Tshisekedi, the long-time opponent of the Mobutu regime, who was brought to this position three times, by pressure from the people. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Etienne Tshisekedi is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), a political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ...

The position resurfaced as an institution of the new Congolese constititution, and Antoine Gizenga was appointed as the first Prime Minister of the Third Republic, on December 30, 2006. Gizenga was already Lumumba's Deputy-Prime Minister in 1960. Antoine Gizenga (born 5 October 1925) is a Congolese (DRC) politician, and the Prime Minister of the country since December 30, 2006. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Description

Under the constitution of the third republic, the Prime Minister shares the leadership of the executive branch of goverment, with the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Head of State. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, from the party or political group that has the majority in the National Assembly. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has known a tormented history since its independence in 1960, involving a secession - one week after independence, three major coup detats, a 32-year-long dictatorship, and up to 4 name and flag changes. ... The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: , Swahili: , Lingala: ) , is Congos elected Head of State, and the ex officio Supreme Commander (Commander-in-Chief) of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... Composition of the National Assembly This politics-related article is a stub. ...

The Prime Minister has a secondary role in the executive branch, when he or she is from the same party as the president, as the head of the executive is constitutionally the President. However when there is cohabitation (i.e., when the President is of one party while another party controls the National Assembly) the Prime Minister's importance is enhanced because the president has little power to be exercised by himself or herself alone. Cohabitation in government occurs in semi-presidential systems, such as Frances system, when the President and the Prime Minister come from different political parties. ...

Requirements

The constitution does not expressly outline any direct requirement for this position. The only litmus is the approval by the National Assembly of the government's composition and program, which then leads to the investiture of the government.

See also

Historical Leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• • President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (List)
  • Prime Ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (List)
  • Colonial Heads of Congo
    • Rulers of Katanga
    • Rulers of Kuba
    • Rulers of Luba
    • Rulers of Ruund (Luunda)
    • Rulers of Kasongo Luunda (Yaka)
    • Rulers of Kongo
• Zaire