President Félix Tshisekedi presided over the inaugural cabinet meeting of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa’s new government on Friday, June 14th. This meeting served as an initial contact session for the 54-member cabinet, which includes 30 new faces. The President set forth his expectations ahead of an upcoming government training seminar.
A solemn photo session preceded the meeting, with President Tshisekedi standing in the front row alongside Prime Minister Judith Suminwa and the Deputy Prime Ministers. The new ministers, some of whom have been reassigned to different portfolios—such as the former Hydrocarbons Minister now overseeing Sports, and the former Industry Minister now handling Foreign Trade—stood behind them.
During the cabinet meeting, President Tshisekedi emphasized solidarity among the ministers, urging them to set aside their political affiliations and religious beliefs to focus on their responsibilities. He specifically called on the new members to advocate for security improvements in the eastern regions of the country and to address the Rwandan aggression through the M23 and its military forces. He instructed all ministers to consistently highlight this conflict in all international meetings they attend.
President Tshisekedi announced that he would conduct quarterly evaluations of each cabinet member’s performance to ensure their effectiveness. “Consequences will follow each evaluation,” he warned, underscoring his commitment to accountability.
The President also stressed the importance of moral integrity, demanding qualities such as kindness, courtesy, sobriety, good governance, and impeccable conduct from his ministers in all areas.
This initial cabinet meeting under the leadership of Judith Suminwa marks a pivotal moment as the DRC government aligns its efforts to address national security concerns and uphold high standards of governance. The success of these directives will be closely monitored through the President’s rigorous evaluation process, setting a tone of responsibility and ethical governance for the new administration.