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List of prime ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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This is a list of prime ministers[b] of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of the Congo and Zaire) since the country's independence in 1960.

The current Prime Minister is Judith Suminwa, since 12 June 2024; she is the first woman in the post.[1]

List of officeholders

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(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party President(s)
(Term)
Took office Left office Time in office
Republic of the Congo (1960–1971)
1 Patrice Lumumba
(1925–1961)
1960 24 June 1960
(appointed)
5 September 1960
(dismissed)
73 days Mouvement National Congolais
(Lumumba faction)
Joseph Kasa-Vubu

(1960–1965)
2 Joseph Iléo
(1921–1994)
5 September 1960 20 September 1960 15 days Mouvement National Congolais
(Kalonji faction)
3 Albert Ndele
(1930–2023)
20 September 1960 3 October 1960 13 days Independent
4 Justin Bomboko
(1928–2014)
3 October 1960 9 February 1961 129 days Independent
Antoine Gizenga
(1925–2019)
(disputed)[c]
13 December 1960 5 August 1961 235 days Parti Solidaire Africain
(Gizenga faction)
(2) Joseph Iléo
(1921–1994)
9 February 1961 2 August 1961 174 days Mouvement National Congolais
(Kalonji faction)
5 Cyrille Adoula
(1921–1978)
2 August 1961 30 June 1964 2 years, 333 days Mouvement National Congolais
6 Moïse Tshombe
(1919–1969)
10 July 1964 13 October 1965 1 year, 95 days CONACO
7 Évariste Kimba
(1926–1966)
1965 13 October 1965 25 November 1965
(dismissed)
43 days CONAKAT
8 Léonard Mulamba
(1928–1986)[d]
25 November 1965 26 October 1966 335 days Military Joseph-Désiré Mobutu

(1965–1997)
Post abolished (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
Post abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
9 Mpinga Kasenda
(1937–1994)
1977 6 July 1977[3] 6 March 1979 1 year, 243 days Popular Movement of the Revolution Mobutu Sese Seko

(1965–1997)
10 Bo-Boliko Lokonga
(1934–2018)
6 March 1979 27 August 1980 1 year, 174 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
11 Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond
(1938–2003)
27 August 1980 18 April 1981[e] 234 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
12 N'Singa Udjuu
(1934–2021)
1982 23 April 1981[5] 5 November 1982 1 year, 196 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
13 Léon Kengo wa Dondo
(born 1935)
5 November 1982 31 October 1986 3 years, 360 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
Post vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
14 Mabi Mulumba
(born 1941)
1987 22 January 1987 7 March 1988 1 year, 45 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
15 Sambwa Pida Nbagui
(1940–1998)
7 March 1988 26 November 1988 264 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
(13) Léon Kengo wa Dondo
(born 1935)
26 November 1988 4 May 1990 1 year, 159 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
16 Lunda Bululu
(born 1942)
4 May 1990 1 April 1991 332 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
17 Mulumba Lukoji
(1943–1997)
1 April 1991 29 September 1991[f] 181 days Popular Movement of the Revolution
18 Étienne Tshisekedi
(1932–2017)
29 September 1991[8] 1 November 1991 33 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
19 Bernardin Mungul Diaka
(1933–1999)
1 November 1991 25 November 1991 24 days Democratic Assembly for the Republic
(11) Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond
(1938–2003)
25 November 1991 15 August 1992 264 days Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
(18) Étienne Tshisekedi
(1932–2017)
15 August 1992 18 March 1993 215 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
20 Faustin Birindwa
(1943–1999)
18 March 1993 14 January 1994 302 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
(13) Léon Kengo wa Dondo
(born 1935)
6 July 1994 2 April 1997 2 years, 270 days Union of Independent Democrats
(18) Étienne Tshisekedi
(1932–2017)
2 April 1997 9 April 1997 7 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
21 Likulia Bolongo
(born 1939)
9 April 1997[9] 16 May 1997[g] 37 days Military
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)
Post abolished (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
22 Antoine Gizenga
(1925–2019)
2006 30 December 2006 10 October 2008 1 year, 285 days Unified Lumumbist Party Joseph Kabila

(2001–2019)
23 Adolphe Muzito
(born 1957)
2011 10 October 2008 6 March 2012 3 years, 148 days Unified Lumumbist Party
Louis Alphonse Koyagialo
(1947–2014)
Acting
6 March 2012 18 April 2012 43 days Unified Lumumbist Party
24 Matata Ponyo Mapon
(born 1964)
18 April 2012 17 November 2016 4 years, 213 days People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
25 Samy Badibanga
(born 1962)
17 November 2016 18 May 2017 182 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
26 Bruno Tshibala
(born 1956)
18 May 2017 7 September 2019 2 years, 112 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress
2018 Félix Tshisekedi

(2019–present)
27 Sylvestre Ilunga
(born 1947)
7 September 2019 27 April 2021 1 year, 232 days People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
28 Sama Lukonde
(born 1977)
27 April 2021 12 June 2024 3 years, 46 days Future of Congo
29 Judith Suminwa
(born 1967)
2023 12 June 2024 Incumbent 138 days Union for Democracy and Social Progress

Timeline

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Judith SuminwaSama LukondeSylvestre IlungaBruno TshibalaSamy BadibangaMatata Ponyo MaponLouis Alphonse KoyagialoAdolphe MuzitoLikulia BolongoFaustin BirindwaBernardin Mungul DiakaÉtienne TshisekediMulumba LukojiLunda BululuJules Fontaine SambwaMabi MulumbaLéon Kengo wa DondoN'Singa UdjuuJean Nguza Karl-i-BondAndré Bo-Boliko LokongaMpinga KasendaLéonard MulambaÉvariste KimbaMoïse TshombeCyrille AdoulaAntoine GizengaJustin Marie BombokoAlbert NdeleJoseph IléoPatrice Lumumba

Rank by time in office

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ After Law No. 90-002 of 5 July 1990 was promulgated, the position of "First State Commissioner" was replaced with "Prime Minister." See Articles 94–98 of the Constitution of Zaire (as amended by Law No. 90-002) for details. Source
  2. ^ The office of Prime Minister was styled as Chairman of the College of Commissioners-General in 1960–1961 and as First State Commissioner in 1977–1990[a]
  3. ^ Prime Minister of the Free Republic of the Congo, in rebellion at Stanleyville, during the Congo Crisis.[2]
  4. ^ Chief of Staff since October 1964, until named Prime Minister after coup of 25 November 1965. Removed from premiership 26 October 1966, following pressure from army high command. Mobutu became head of government as well as head of state. Born Kasaï 1930, Joined Force Publique 1949, Sergeant Major by 1960, quickly became an officer. 1962 assigned to command the 3rd Groupement at Kisangani. 'Gained international fame for.. defence of Bukavu and for conducting one of the most decisive battles of the 1964 north-east revolution. When Kisangani was recaptured from rebel forces in 1964 he was named military governor of the entire northeastern region.' 'General Mulamba has always enjoyed great popularity with the troops. He is known for his straightforward approach to problems. He has a sizeable farm outside Kinshasa to which, he has said, he would like to retire some day.' (Sydney Taylor, The New Africans, 1967, p.102)
  5. ^ Fled into exile while on a private visit to Belgium.[4]
  6. ^ Resigned after the military riots in Kinshasa, during the 1991 Zaire unrest.[6][7]
  7. ^ Deposed in the First Congo War.

References

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  1. ^ Muamba, Clément (12 June 2024). "RDC-Primature: Sama Lukonde passe officiellement le flambeau à Judith Suminwa". Actualite.cd (in French). Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  2. ^ James, Alan (1996). Britain and the Congo Crisis, 1960–63 (illustrated ed.). Springer. pp. xix. ISBN 9781349245284.
  3. ^ "Mobutu Appoints a Prime Minister". New York Times. Reuters. 7 July 1977. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Around the World; Zaire's Premier Resigns; Party Calls Him 'Cowardly'". New York Times. UPI. 18 April 1981. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ^ "AROUND THE WORLD; Ex-Official Is Appointed Prime Minister of Zaire". New York Times. Reuters. 24 April 1981. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Thousands of Troops on Rampage Of Looting and Violence in Zaire". New York Times. Associated Press. 24 September 1991. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. ^ Rone Tempest and Scott Kraft (27 September 1991). "Riots, Anarchy in Zaire Bring Devastation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  8. ^ Kenneth B. Noble (30 September 1991). "Zaire's Dictator Agrees to Share Power With Foe". New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ^ Howard W. French (10 April 1997). "Mobutu Imposes Military Rule in Zaire". New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
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