Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: Premier-ministre de la République démocratique du Congo, Swahili: Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo, Lingala: Minisele ya Yambo wa Republiki ya Kɔ́ngɔ Demokratiki), is Congo's head of government. The current prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is no one since 7 April 2019

Prime Minister of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (grey spear).svg
Incumbent
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde

since 15 February 2021
AppointerFélix Tshisekedi,
as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Inaugural holderPatrice Lumumba
Formation24 June 1960

The position of prime minister was already present in the first government after independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the first prime minister Patrice Emery Lumumba.

The position was restored in 1977, as the title of "First State Commissioner" which, in reality, was weak in comparison to the pre-war office of Prime Minister. The office became vacant in 1997.

Heads of government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960–present)

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Republic of the Congo (1960–1964)

No. Name Lifespan Took office Left office Political party
Prime Ministers
1 Patrice Lumumba   1925–1961 24 June 1960
(appointed)
5 September 1960
(dismissed)
Mouvement National Congolais
(Lumumba faction)
2 Joseph Iléo   1909–1994 5 September 1960 20 September 1960 Mouvement National Congolais
(Kalonji faction)
Chairmen of the College of Commissioners-General
3 Justin Marie Bomboko   1915–2014 4 October 1960 9 February 1961 Independent
Prime Ministers
Antoine Gizenga
(disputed)[a]
  1916–2019 13 December 1960 5 August 1961 Parti Solidaire Africain
(Gizenga faction)
(2) Joseph Iléo   1909–1994 9 February 1961 2 August 1961 Mouvement National Congolais
(Kalonji faction)
4 Cyrille Adoula   1908–1978 2 August 1961 30 June 1964 Mouvement National Congolais
5 Moïse Tshombe   1909–1969 10 July 1964 1 August 1964 CONACO

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1964–1971)

Prime Ministers
(5) Moïse Tshombe   1909–1969 1 August 1964 13 October 1965 CONACO
6 Évariste Kimba   1926–1966 18 October 1965 14 November 1965 CONAKAT
7 Léonard Mulamba[b]   1928–1986 25 November 1965 26 October 1966 Military
Post Abolished (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)

Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)

Post Abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
First State Commissioners
8 Mpinga Kasenda   1914–1994 6 July 1977 6 March 1979 Popular Movement of the Revolution
9 André Bo-Boliko Lokonga Monse Mihambo   1920–2018 6 March 1979 27 August 1980 Popular Movement of the Revolution
10 Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond   1918–2003 27 August 1980 23 April 1981[c] Popular Movement of the Revolution
11 N'singa Udjuu Ongwabeki Untubu   1923–2021 23 April 1981 5 November 1982 Popular Movement of the Revolution
12 Kengo Wa Dondo   1927– 5 November 1982 31 October 1986 Popular Movement of the Revolution
Vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
13 Mabi Mulumba   1931– 22 January 1987 7 March 1988 Popular Movement of the Revolution
14 Sambwa Pida Nbagui   1930–1998 7 March 1988 26 November 1988 Popular Movement of the Revolution
(12) Kengo Wa Dondo   1927– 26 November 1988 4 May 1990 Popular Movement of the Revolution
15 Lunda Bululu   1942– 4 May 1990 5 July 1990 Popular Movement of the Revolution
Prime Ministers[d]
Lunda Bululu   1932– 5 July 1990 1 April 1991 Popular Movement of the Revolution
16 Mulumba Lukoji   1920–1997 1 April 1991 29 September 1991[e] Popular Movement of the Revolution
17 Étienne Tshisekedi   1921–2017 29 September 1991 1 November 1991 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
18 Bernardin Mungul Diaka   1918–1999 1 November 1991 25 November 1991 Democratic Assembly for the Republic
(10) Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond   1918–2003 25 November 1991 15 August 1992 Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
(17) Étienne Tshisekedi   1921–2017 15 August 1992 18 March 1993 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
19 Faustin Birindwa   1930–1999 18 March 1993 14 January 1994 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
(12) Kengo Wa Dondo   1927– 6 July 1994 2 April 1997 Union of Independent Democrats
(17) Étienne Tshisekedi   1932–2017 2 April 1997 9 April 1997 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
20 Likulia Bolongo   1923– 9 April 1997 16 May 1997[f] Military

Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)

Post Abolished (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
Prime Ministers
21 Antoine Gizenga   1916–2019 30 December 2006 10 October 2008 Unified Lumumbist Party
22 Adolphe Muzito   1947– 10 October 2008 6 March 2012 Unified Lumumbist Party
Louis Alphonse Koyagialo
Acting Prime Minister
  1937–2014 6 March 2012 18 April 2012 Unified Lumumbist Party
23 Augustin Matata Ponyo   1955– 18 April 2012 17 November 2016 People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
24 Samy Badibanga   1951– 17 November 2016 18 May 2017 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
25 Bruno Tshibala   1946– 18 May 2017 7 April 2019 Union for Democracy and Social Progress
26 Sylvestre Ilunga   1937– 20 May 2019 15 February 2021 People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
27 Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde   1967– 15 February 2021 Incumbent People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy

Notes

  1. Rebel government at Stanleyville, during the Congo Crisis.
  2. Chief of Staff since October 1964, until named Prime Minister after coup of 25 November 1965. Removed from premiership 26 October 1966, following pressure from army high command. Mobutu became head of government as well as head of state. Born Kasaï 1930, Joined Force publique 1949, Sergeant Major by 1960, quickly became an officer. 1962 assigned to command the 3rd Groupement at Kisangani. 'Gained international fame for.. defence of Bukavu and for conducting one of the most decisive battles of the 1964 north-east revolution. When Kisangani was recaptured from rebel forces in 1964 he was named military governor of the entire northeastern region.' 'General Mulamba has always enjoyed great popularity with the troops. He is known for his straightforward approach to problems. He has a sizeable farm outside Kinshasa to which, he has said, he would like to retire some day.' (Sydney Taylor, The New Africans, 1967, p.102)
  3. Fled into exile while on an official visit to Belgium.
  4. After Law No. 90-002 of 5 July 1990 was promulgated, the position of "First State Commissioner" was replaced with "Prime Minister." See Articles 94 — 98 of the Constitution of Zaire (as amended by Law No. 90-002) for details. Source
  5. Resigned after the military riots in Kinshasa.
  6. Deposed in the First Congo War.

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