Vital Kamerhe, a close ally of President Félix Tshisekedi, has been re-elected as the head of the National Assembly, a position he previously held from 2006 to 2009. His election on Wednesday resolves months of political infighting and a looming threat from President Tshisekedi to dissolve parliament.
At 65, Kamerhe is a seasoned figure in Congolese politics and aligned with Tshisekedi since 2018, when he withdrew his own presidential candidacy. Kamerhe’s Union for the Congolese Nation party was instrumental in helping Tshisekedi break a coalition with former President Joseph Kabila in 2020.
However, Kamerhe, who also served as Tshisekedi’s chief of staff, was later imprisoned for embezzlement and sentenced to 20 years. In 2022, he was acquitted on appeal and released.
In 2023, Kamerhe rejoined Tshisekedi’s cabinet as the minister of the economy, coinciding with Tshisekedi’s re-election for a second term. Kamerhe’s return as Speaker of Parliament now sets the stage for the formation of a new government.
