Congo’s President appoints opposition member as prime minister
NAN-F-5
Appointment
Beni (Congo), Nov. 17, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Thursday appointed opposition legislator Sammy Badibanga as prime minister as part of a deal to form a national unity government to prepare the 2018 elections, the presidency said.
Badibanga replaced Augustin Matata Ponyo.
Kabila was due to step down in December.
However, the ruling coalition and some opposition parties agreed to postpone the November elections until April 2018, citing delays in registering voters.
Badibanga belongs to a dissident wing of the party of former prime minister Etienne Tshisekedi, who rejects the formation of the unity government.
Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress and other large opposition parties regard the postponement of the elections as a manoeuvre for Kabila to extend his rule beyond the constitutional two-term limit.
The postponement sparked protests in which dozens were killed. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/MST
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola