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DR Congo parliament elects Vital Kamerhe as speaker after foiled coup

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national assembly elected Vital Kamerhe, whose home was violently attacked on Sunday, as speaker in a delayed vote, a key step towards installing a government five months after a presidential election.

The role of speaker makes Kamerhe, a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi, the country’s number two authority.

Of the 407 members of parliament who cast ballots on Monday, 371 voted in favour of Kamerhe’s candidacy for speaker. MPs were also set to vote on candidacies for six other positions in the lower house.

The vote clears the way for Congo to name a government, which it has not had since the December 2023 presidential election that handed Tshisekedi a second term.

Tshisekedi named Judith Suminwa as Congo’s first female prime minister on April 1.

The vote had been scheduled for May 18 but was delayed by Tshisekedi.

On May 19, Congolese security forces said they had foiled an attempted coup and repelled an attack on Kamerhe’s home in the centre of the capital Kinshasa. Kamerhe’s spokesman, Michel Moto Muhima, said two guards were killed in the attack.

The Sacred Union, Tshisekedi’s coalition, has a majority in parliament with at least 90 percent of elected members of the 500 seats in parliament.

Kamerhe, 65, campaigned with Tshisekedi in the 2018 presidential election.

Kamerhe has previously served as Tshisekedi’s chief of staff and as deputy prime minister of the economy. In 2020, he was arrested in a graft probe.

 

Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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