Finally, President Tshisekedi has appointed a P.M.

President Felix Tshisekedi of D.R. Congo has appointed a Prime Minister, nearly four months since he was inaugurated into his office.

Dr. Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, was announced as D.R. Congo’s new Prime Minister in a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Kasongo Mwema.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Ilunkamba served as the head of the national rail corporation, SNCC. He’s a member of the PPRD party, the former ruling party headed by former president Joseph Kabila, who is in a coalition with President Tshisekedi.

Indeed, it was Mr. Kabila who proposed Dr. Ilunkamba for the position, a fact he was quick to acknowledge.

“I would like to thank his Excellency, Joseph Kabila Kabange, who proposed me as prime minister and assured me of his trust,” said the new PM in a press conference shortly after his appointment was made public.

The premiership would have been given to someone, had Kabila’s initial proposal sailed through.

In April, it emerged that Mr. Kabila had proposed the appointed of one Albert Yuma as the PM, but President Tshisekedi rejected this proposal on the basis of allegations that hover over Mr. Yuma, who is the head of the state mining company. The company is accused of misappropriating millions of dollars.

Dr. Ilunkamba is a career politician who served as a minister during the reign of the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.

With the appointment the prime minister, President Tshisekedi’s government could get on with the task of forming a new cabinet.

However, as Kabila’s coalition holds an unassailable majority in parliament, it remains to be seen whether Pres. Tshisekedi will have a free hand in doing so.