Africa

Three DRC Ministers Quit

FILE: Democratic Republic of Congo's opposition Presidential candidate Moise Katumbi talks to his supporters after leaving the prosecutor's office in Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Taken May 11, 2016

Three DRC ministers who are members of presidential candidate Moise Katumbi's party resigned Wednesday after the incumbent leader asked them whom they would support in coming elections. Katumbi announced earlier this month that he would run in the DRC's presidential election scheduled for late 2023.
KINSHASA — 

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi had summoned five ministers who are members of Katumbi's Ensemble pour la Republique (Together for the Republic) party to "know their position" on Wednesday, his office said.

The minister of planning, the minister of transport and the vice-minister of health tendered their resignations later, the presidency said.

Tshisekedi, who came to power in January 2019, has already announced that he intends to run for a second term next year.

DRC's economy has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war since Tshisekedi was first elected in 2019, hiking inflation and the cost of living in the mineral-rich country.

Martin Fayulu, the second-place finisher in the last presidential vote, has already announced his intention to run against Tshisekedi again.