Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Samy Badibanga
was named prime minister on Thursday, the presidency said in a
statement, as part of a power-sharing deal that allows President
Joseph Kabila to stay in power after his term ends next month.
The nomination of Badibanga, who is currently a member of
parliament, to head the new government of national unity came as
a surprise as another opposition leader - former Kabila ally
Vital Kamerhe - had been widely expected to take up the post.
Badibanga was excluded from Congo's largest opposition
party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), in
2012 along with other MPs for disobeying an order from party
president Etienne Tshisekedi to boycott seats in parliament.
Tshisekedi lost the 2011 presidential election to Kabila in
a poll that independent observers said was tainted by fraud. He
refused to participate in national talks last month that called
for a unity government, saying they were a pretext to let Kabila
cling to power after his final term expires.
As part of the deal, a presidential election scheduled for
November 27 to replace Kabila was postponed until at least April
2018, with authorities citing budgetary constraints and delays
registering millions of voters.
Augustin Matata Ponyo, who had served as prime minister
since May 2012 and has been credited with overseeing
macroeconomic stability, resigned with his government on Monday
to make way for a new cabinet.
