President Tshisekedi of Congo Revamps Cabinet by Including Former Vice President Bemba in Anticipation of Upcoming Election
In a major cabinet reshuffle yesterday, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo appointed former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba as the new Defense Minister. The move came as a surprise to many, given that Bemba had been in detention for more than a decade for war crimes. However, it is being seen as a strategic decision by Tshisekedi in the lead-up to the presidential election scheduled for December 20th.
The announcement of the cabinet reshuffle was made on national television late on Thursday, with the government deeming it “urgent and necessary”. While no further details were provided, it is believed that the move was part of a broader effort to strengthen Tshisekedi’s coalition ahead of the election.
Bemba, the leader of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC), had been detained by the International Criminal Court since 2008 for crimes committed by his troops in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003. He was later acquitted and released in 2018, though he was found guilty of interfering with witnesses during his trial. Despite his controversial past, Bemba’s inclusion in the cabinet is seen as a strategic move by Tshisekedi to shore up support among certain constituencies.
The reshuffle also saw the appointment of other notable figures in Congolese politics, including former Chief of Staff Vital Kamerhe as Minister of Economy, and Nicolas Kazadi as Finance Minister. Kamerhe, who was released from prison last year after serving time for embezzlement charges, is not an expert in economics. Similarly, Bemba’s background in rebellion does not necessarily make him qualified to lead the military. However, as veteran politicians with a strong base of support, they are seen as valuable additions to the cabinet.
The reshuffle was not unexpected, given Tshisekedi’s need to maintain a strong coalition ahead of the election. Jason Stearns, Director of the Congo Research Group and Professor at Canada’s Simon Fraser University, called the move a “profoundly political reshuffling”. He noted that the appointment of Bemba in particular was a sign of Tshisekedi’s willingness to make bold moves to secure support from different factions.
Tshisekedi himself is expected to run for a second term in the upcoming election, and the reshuffle is seen as part of his larger strategy to consolidate power and maintain a broad coalition of supporters. With a new Defense Minister in place and other key appointments made, Tshisekedi appears to be positioning himself for a strong showing in the election.
The reshuffle has been met with mixed reactions from the public. While some see it as a positive step towards stability and strong leadership, others have raised concerns about the inclusion of figures like Bemba, who has a controversial past. However, Tshisekedi appears to be confident in his decision, and has emphasized the need for a diverse and broad-based coalition in order to lead the country forward.
With Tshisekedi making bold moves to consolidate power and maintain support, it remains to be seen how the public will respond. However, with the appointment of Bemba and other key figures, it is clear that Tshisekedi is taking a proactive approach to leadership and is willing to make tough decisions in order to secure his position.
Image Credit: Felix Tshisekedi/Twitter
