Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Samy Badibanga has been named prime minister on Thursday as part of a power-sharing deal signed in October by the opposition and government.

Badibanga’s appointment was announced on state television three days after the resignation of former Prime Minister Augustin Matata to allow the implementation of the national dialogue framework agreement.

Badibanga’s nomination to head the new government of national unity came as a surprise as another opposition leader Vital Kamerhe, a former Kabila ally, had been widely expected to take up the post.

The power-sharing agreement was signed in October by the ruling party and some opposition parties endorsing the 2018 presidential election date proposed by the electoral commission and for President Joseph Kabila to remain in office till then.

The political agreement signed under the watch of the African Union-appointed facilitator Edem Kodjo, was endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who called for a “peaceful transition for peaceful elections.”

However, the agreement was opposed by the major opposition coalition which described it as non-inclusive and promised to protest till Kabila steps down when his mandate originally ends in December.</s>Samy Badibanga will be the country’s next prime minister, according to a presidential decree read on state television.

The move is part of an October deal between the government and fringe opposition groups that was slammed by the main opposition coalition as a Kabila ploy to remain in office.

The deal was , which emerged followed a “national dialogue”, aimed to calm soaring political tensions but will extend Kabila’s term to at least late 2017. He was due to leave office next month.

“The deal currently represents the only roadmap put in place by the Congolese themselves,” said Kabila during a defiant speech to parliamentarians in the capital Kinshasa on Tuesday.

He added that he was ready to defend against any attempt to take over the country by force, pledging that elections would be organised in the coming months.

The bulk of Kabila’s political foes have formed a “Gathering” around the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party founded by veteran Etienne Tshisekedi.

He has called himself the country’s “president elect” since the last presidential poll in 2011.

Badibanga’s appointment has come as a surprise as Vital Kamerhe, who led the fringe opposition that participated in the national dialogue and had been cited as the favourite to succeed Matata as premier.

Badibanga was among opposition figures who in early 2015 put their name to a statement branding Congo an “open air prison” after access to text messaging, mobile internet and radio stations were blocked.

Among his first tasks on taking office will be to organise elections in the vast country, a former Belgian colony which has one of Africa’s richest mineral reserves but has been wracked by unrest, misrule and corruption since independence.

The country has been in a state of crisis since disputed elections in 2011 returned Kabila to office for a second term. A 2006 constitutional provision limits the presidency to two terms.

Kabila took power in 2001, 10 days after the assassination of his father, the then-president, Laurent Kabila.</s>Samy Badibanga is the leader of the main Congolese opposition bloc in Kinshasa. By Junior D. Kannah (AFP)

Kinshasa (AFP) - The Democratic Republic of Congo's president on Thursday named an opposition lawmaker as prime minister following a controversial deal struck between the government and fringe opposition groups that effectively extends the president's term in office.

Samy Badibanga has been named prime minister, according to a presidential decree read on state television. Badibanga is the leader of the main opposition bloc in parliament.</s>The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, has appointed opposition politician Samy Badibanga as prime minister, under a controversial power-sharing deal that effectively extends his term in office.

The move on Thursday was part of an October agreement between the government and fringe opposition groups that was criticised by the main opposition coalition as a Kabila ploy to stay in power.

Badibanga had taken part in last month’s talks even though his party — led by longtime opposition figure Etienne Tshisekedi — had boycotted them.

The main opposition bloc, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), denounced Badibanga’s choice as a “provocation”, dashing hopes the decision might ease the risk of violence over Kabila’s plan to stay on until at least April 2018.

A source close to the leadership of the UDPS, of which Badibanga used to be a leading member until he defied orders not to form a group in parliament, told AFP news agency that his nomination was a “non-event”.

Tshisekedi has called himself the country’s “president elect” since the last presidential poll in 2011.

Paving the way for Badibanga’s nomination, former premier Augustin Matata resigned on Monday.

The October deal, which emerged following a so-called “national dialogue”, aimed to calm soaring political tensions but will extend Kabila’s term to at least late 2017. He was due to leave office next month.

“The deal currently represents the only roadmap put in place by the Congolese themselves,” said Kabila during a defiant speech to parliamentarians in the capital Kinshasa on Tuesday.

He added that he was ready to defend against any attempt to take over the country by force, pledging that elections would be organised in the coming months.

Badibanga”s appointment came as a surprise as Vital Kamerhe, who led the fringe opposition that participated in the national dialogue, had been cited as the favourite to succeed Matata as premier.

The 54-year-old represents a constituency in the capital Kinshasa and was among opposition figures who in early 2015 put their name to a statement branding Congo an “open air prison” after access to text messaging, mobile internet and radio stations were blocked.

Among his first tasks on taking office will be to organise elections in the vast country, which has one of Africa’s richest mineral reserves.

Kabila took power in 2001, 10 days after the assassination of his father, the then-president, Laurent Kabila.

A 2006 constitutional provision limits the presidency to two terms.

Violent anti-Kabila protests in September triggered by the political instability claimed 53 lives, according to the UN. — AFP</s>Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Wednesday defied calls to step down when his term ends next month and vowed during remarks to lawmakers to defend his government against violent overthrow.

His defiant speech to parliament came as criticism grows following a controversial deal between the government and fringe opposition groups that effectively extends the president’s term in office and delays elections until late 2017.

The deal agreed last month followed a “national dialogue” that was aimed at calming soaring political tensions but was largely boycotted by leading opposition figures.

“The deal currently represents the only roadmap put in place by the Congolese themselves,” said Kabila during the speech to parliamentarians in the capital Kinshasa.

As part of the deal, Mr Augustin Matata resigned as prime minister Monday to make way for an opposition figure to take his place.

The main dissident coalition “Rassemblement” (Gathering) — which has rallied around veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi — has rejected the deal and stepped up its calls for Kabila to leave office by December 19 when his term ends.

“The DRC cannot be taken hostage by the fringe of the political class,” he said as he called on the “Rassemblement” bloc to “come and sign the deal”.

He added that he was ready to defend against any attempt to take over the country by force, pledging that elections would be organised in the coming months.

Meanwhile, a Congolese journalist working for state media was shot dead on Monday night at his home in the centre of the country, Congo’s National Press Union (UNPC) said Wednesday.

“We condemn the death of Marcel Lubala of RTNC (Congolese National Radio and Television) who was struck down on Monday night as he slept peacefully with his family,” said UNPC president Joseph Boucard Kasonga Tshilunde.

Lubala was the 16th journalist in 10 years to be slain in Democratic Republic of Congo, the UNPC president said.

Tshilunde also said he was “deeply troubled” by the fact that the murder took place when “only the police carries out night patrols in the city of Mbuji-Mayi”, capital of Eastern Kasai province.

An overnight curfew was slapped on Mbuji-Mayi late September following fierce clashes between police and supporters of a local chief killed the previous month in the neighbouring province of Central Kasai. Around 100 people died in the clashes.

A source close to the Eastern Kasai governor said a series of robberies had taken place during the curfew and that police could be behind the journalist’s death.

Early this month a local media rights group, Journalists In Danger (JED), noted in its annual report that targeted attacks against Congolese journalists were on the increase.
President Joseph Kabila appoints Samy Badibanga as the new Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a power-sharing deal agreed by the opposition and government.