Kinshasa: Civil society representatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo expressed concern on Wednesday that a power vacuum could play into the hands of the rebels following the resignation of the country’s prime minister and several Cabinet members.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge tendered his resignation and that of several Cabinet members, including the defence minister, to President Félix Tshisekedi amid escalating violence in the east of the country.
In the eastern city of Goma, where many from Congo’s conflict-torn neighbour Rwanda have sought refuge, representatives of civil society reacted with concern to the government resignations. They feared that the power vacuum in Kinshasa would be exploited by the rebels and that violence in the region could escalate. “We hope that the consultations (on a new government) will be accelerated so that the Democratic Republic of Congo has a new government as soon as possible,” said Marrion Ngavo, head of the alliance of civic organizations in Goma. (DPA)
