Hard road ahead for new PM to step out of president's grip

Albert Yuma's young guard take helm of DRC's Gécamines 

The state miner's new chairman and general managers appointed by Kinshasa to give Gécamines a new lease of life were all in the good books of the firm's all-powerful former boss Albert Yuma Mulimbi. They also each worked at one time for private mining firms operating in DRC, such as AngloGold and Glencore.

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Yuma's sidelined rivals rise to top at Gécamines 

The new Gécamines chairman, Alphonse Kaputo Kalubi, was for a long time sidelined by Albert Yuma, who has just been ousted from the helm of the state-owned mining company. It seems that the new managing director appointed at the same time was not a Yuma favourite either.

Senate scrutinises finances of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces 

The Congolese parliament's upper house has begun an in-depth inspection of the accounts of the country's 26 provinces, in particular the two richest: Lualaba and Haut-Katanga. This will include Gécamines being looked at.

The former spy chief and the ex-minister of justice spared legal proceedings 

The case brought by former US army veteran Darryl Lewis against two #DRC senior officials who served under president Joseph Kabila for alleged torture has been closed.

Tensions at the top over Tenke Fungurume mine 

Prime Minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge is furious that his government has no representation on the commission set up by the president's office to reassess the reserves of Tenke Fungurume Mining's copper mine.

Senate president's supporters fall out with Gécamines boss over artisanal miners 

Albert Yuma's statement on freelance miners during his visit to South Kivu at the beginning of July did not go down well with allies of Modeste Bahati.

Congolese PM Lukonde in Cairo to talk construction and new towns 

A Congolese delegation headed by Prime Minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge will be visiting Cairo from 27 to 30 July to discuss the Kitoko new town project in which the Egyptian businessman Hesham Sheta is very involved.

Taxpayers fork out handsomely for National Assembly office salaries 

Amid raging debate over what is seen as the exorbitant cost of state institutions, the National Assembly refuses to comment on the remuneration of the members of its office

Modeste Bahati, architect of the resumption of gold mining in Luhihi? 

It seems the Senate president Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, who is also a leading player in the South Kivu business world, may have played a key role in the decision of the province's governor to authorise the resumption of gold mining in Luhihi.

Games budget soars as head honcho awards village contract without tender 

Didier Tshiyoyo, the man suddenly in sole charge of the Francophone Games, has bypassed normal procurement procedures to get the athletes' village built in a no-bid contract worth $113m, more than the events' entire original budget.

The games, the president's fake cousin, and the emptying bank accounts 

Planning for the ninth Jeux de la Francophonie has hit choppy waters in Kinshasa, where the head of the national committee has resigned amid a row with one of his colleagues, a DJ once known as Trouble King who has withdrawn large amounts of cash from illicit accounts held in the name of the games.

Félix Tshisekedi's tries to please Union Sacrée's different parties with new government 

Breaking news published on 09/03/21, 1:40 p.m - Nearly two months after the appointment of Prime Minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge, Tshisekedi is on the verge of announcing his future government. Ministries have been shared out between the parties of the Union Sacrée, according to their political weight and influence.

Gécamines minor reshuffle means major loss of influence for boss Albert Yuma 

Gécamines secretary-general Déogratias Ngele Masudi is close to Albert Yuma, the chairman of the Congolese state firm and a friend of the former head of state. But he has been ousted.