Samy Badibanga
 |
Samy Badibanga | |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Assumed office 17 November 2016 | |
| President | Joseph Kabila |
| Preceded by | Augustin Matata Ponyo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1962 Kinshasa (Léopoldville), Republic of the Congo |
| Political party | Union for Democracy and Social Progress |
Samy Badibanga (born September 1962) is a Congolese politician who has been Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2016.
As a member of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, Badibanga was closely associated with opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi prior to the November 2011 presidential election. Tshisekedi, alleging that the official results were fraudulent, ordered the newly elected UDPS deputies, Badibanga among them, to boycott the National Assembly. Badibanga took his seat anyway, becoming President of the UDPS and Allies Parliamentary Group and thereby creating a rift between himself and Tshisekedi.[1]
In October 2016, Badibanga participated in a dialogue between the government and some elements of the opposition regarding the timing of the next election. The dialogue resulted in an agreement for Kabila to remain in office beyond the normal end of his term (December 2016) to allow time for the organization of the next election, which was delayed until April 2018, while also stipulating that a representative of the opposition would serve as Prime Minister during the period leading up to the election.[1] President Joseph Kabila then appointed Badibanga as Prime Minister on 17 November 2016. In doing so, he bypassed a more prominent representative of the opposition who also participated in the dialogue, Vital Kamerhe, contrary to general expectations.[1][2] More radical elements of the opposition, associated with Étienne Tshisekedi, opposed any deal with the government allowing Kabila to remain in office.[2]
See also
- List of heads of government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
References
- ^ a b c Pierre Boisselet, "RD Congo : Samy Badibanga, le choix de la discrétion", Jeune Afrique, 23 November 2016 Template:Fr icon.
- ^ a b Ismail Akwei, "Opposition leader Badibanga named prime minister of DR Congo", Africanews, 17 November 2016.
External links
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