Plenary session, which is due to resume in the parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this Monday, September 15th, is already marked by political turbulence.
Petitions seeking the removal of National Assembly president Vital Kamerhe, Senate president Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, and members of their offices are threatening to overshadow the new budget session.
The petitions, driven by two MPs from the ruling UDPS party, accuse Kamerhe of poor parliamentary oversight, lack of transparency, and failure to address lawmakers’ welfare — including ten months of unpaid operating costs.
Organisers say they’ve already collected more than half of the signatures in the 500-member National Assembly. Similar allegations have also been levelled against Senate President Lukonde.
Kamerhe’s allies, however, denounce what they call a political “settling of scores,” pointing to budget cuts that have limited parliamentary spending.
While the UDPS leadership distances itself from the revolt, it acknowledges that the tensions could slow down the government’s draft budget presentation. Party secretary-general Augustin Kabuya says the final word will rest with President Félix Tshisekedi.
