Six months after the legislative elections and more than two months following the appointment of new Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, her government is set to be inaugurated before Parliament on Tuesday, June 11. The inauguration is expected to proceed smoothly, given the presidential majority’s dominance in Parliament. The new government has laid out ambitious plans to address the significant challenges facing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The foremost priority for Prime Minister Suminwa is employment. Recognizing the youthful demographic of the population, the Congolese economy needs to generate approximately 1.5 million jobs annually between 2024 and 2030. Consequently, around 30% of the government’s five-year program budget is dedicated to job creation and protecting purchasing power.
The second key focus is on national security and the protection of citizens and their property, which accounts for 20% of the overall program costs. The new administration plans to continue the recruitment drive within the army to rejuvenate its ranks and equip the forces with necessary resources. Additionally, the Suminwa government aims to update the National Security Council Act and develop a strategic security and defense plan spanning 25 years.
The third pillar of the program focuses on national infrastructure development to enhance connectivity. This sector is allocated 22% of the five-year program budget. The government plans to expedite the construction of the Banana deep-water port, build 3,750 kilometers of priority national roads, and establish 400 modular ports to serve agricultural areas. The agenda also includes constructing and modernizing airports in N’djili (Kinshasa), Kavumu (Bukavu), and Mbuji-Mayi.
To accomplish these extensive projects, the government’s action plan for 2024-2028 is estimated to cost $92 billion, averaging $18 billion annually.
Civil society organizations, however, remain skeptical and stress the importance of addressing corruption and other governance challenges to ensure the program’s success.