The DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday, February 15, appointed the Director-General of Gecamines, the state mining company, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, as the new Prime Minister.

Lukonde, 43, replaces 73-year-old Ilunga Ilunkamba—an ally to Tshisekedi's predecessor, Joseph Kabila—who lost a vote of no confidence in parliament last month. Ilunga resigned from the post on January 28.

"I would like, more than ever before, to bring the nation together in the face of the economic and social crisis which is already there with the coronavirus," the new Prime Minister noted on Twitter.

Lukonde, an engineer by training and the son of Stéphane Lukonde Kyenge, a former key figure in Katanga politics who was assassinated in 2001, was minister of Youth and Sport for nine months back in 2015.

Lukonde was also once a member of the party of the ex-Katanga Governor and wealthy businessman Moïse Katumbi.

The appointment of a new Prime Minister, analysts say, is designed to help Tshisekedi install a more loyal cabinet to easily push through his agenda.

Take time to consult

Speaking to The New Times on Tuesday, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, a member of DR Congo's National Assembly, said the new Prime Minister would not start forming a new government immediately.

"He is not going to form the government directly. He will take time to consult the various political groups to form his team," the lawmaker said.

"It’s a surprising appointment and one that gives way to the younger generation. The most difficult (task) remains the training of his team and the implementation of the reforms that are expected."

His view is that the new Prime Minister must provide technical leadership in addition to the political leadership of the President to form a tight team and bring the winds of change around three main reforms: electoral, economic and security.

Last December, Tshisekedi moved to end a coalition formed with Kabila that had for long constrained his authority since he took office in January 2019.

Tshisekedi’s government found it difficult to pass and implement important decisions because of Kabila's majority in parliament that blocked and undermined the former's plans.

Tshisekedi took over a new role as Chairman of the African Union for a year. 

But he remains preoccupied with political battles at home where he continues to stamp his authority by removing leaders that stand in his way for a development agenda he has for his country.