Lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have passed an historic no confidence vote on Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilukamba, effectively removing him from power.
Embattled Ilukamba, who was not present in the chambers when the vote during a parliament plenary session in Kinshasa, has been given 24 hours to resign.
Ilukamba had refused to respond to the invitation of the provisional office of parliament, which he considers illegitimate under the constitution and internal regulations of parliament.
In a letter addressed to members of the provisional office of parliament and to deputies on Wednesday morning, Sylvestre Ilunga stressed that the proceedings against his government violated the country’s constitution and the rule of law.
The lawmakers accused Ilukamba, an ally of former President Joseph Kabila, and his ministers of poor performance.
The collapse of the government paves the way for President Félix Tshisekedi to appoint loyalists as ministers.
Last month, Mr Tshisekedi ended a coalition formed with his predecessor, whose allies dominated key ministries.
Since then, Mr Tshisekedi has been persuading MPs to defect from Mr Kabila’s alliance, which previously held the majority in parliament, stalling the president’s reform programme.
The prime minister’s impeachment garnered a large majority of votes in the absence of MPs loyal to ex-President Joseph Kabila who decided not to take part in the vote.
This will be the first time in DR Congo’s 60-year history that a government has been forced to resign.
