In a bid to shore up political backing in regions still under its control, the Democratic Republic of Congo has unveiled a reshuffled cabinet that, for the first time in years, incorporates figures from the opposition.
Government spokesperson Tina Salama announced the changes in a televised address late Thursday, revealing a 53-member lineup. Among the new appointments is former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, who served under ex-President Joseph Kabila and will now take on the role of vice prime minister overseeing the budget. Despite the shake-up, more than 90% of the previous cabinet remains in place.
President Félix Tshisekedi, who ended Kabila’s 18-year rule in 2019, had pledged in February to form a “government of national unity” as part of a broader strategy to contain unrest in the mineral-rich east and prevent it from escalating nationwide.
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That region remains a battleground, with over 100 armed groups vying for control. The M23 rebel movement, which holds several strategic cities, has repeatedly clashed with Kinshasa over stalled peace talks. Plans for direct negotiations in Doha on Friday collapsed when neither side traveled to Qatar. M23 leaders said they never received an official invitation and warned they would not return to the table unless approximately 700 detained members and supporters were freed. The government had promised those releases but has yet to carry them out.
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The government accused M23 on Thursday of breaching the June peace deal, further dimming hopes for progress.
The new cabinet, initially billed as a leaner body, is only one member smaller than the previous 54-member lineup announced in May 2024, an indication that, despite talk of reform, the administration is prioritizing political alliances to maintain national cohesion.
