Matata named DR Congo’s new PM

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday appointed Augustine Matata Ponyo as the Central African country’s new prime minister.

Friday, April 20, 2012

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday appointed Augustine Matata Ponyo as the Central African country’s new prime minister.In this regard, a decree signed by Kabila was read on the Congolese national television station (RTNC).Ponyo,47, comes from Maniema province in the central-eastern region of the country, joined the government of Adolphe Muzito as a finance minister in February 2010 and was reappointed to the same position in September 2011.A specialist in monetary and budgetary policies, Ponyo previously worked at the Congolese Central Bank (BCC). He has on several occasion served as an advisor to the Congolese finance ministry.He is currently the president of the Caucus of African Governors at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The new premier was one of the survivors of the plane crash that occurred on Feb. 12 at the Kavumu airport in Bukavu, which resulted in the death of Augustine Katumba Muanke, an advisor to President Kabila.