Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: Premier-ministre de la République démocratique du Congo, Swahili: Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo, Lingala: Minisele ya Yambo wa Republiki ya Kɔ́ngɔ Demokratiki), is Congo's head of government. The current prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Judith Suminwa Tuluka since 12 June 2024.

Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Arms of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Incumbent Judith Suminwa Tuluka since 12 June 2024
Appointer	Félix Tshisekedi, as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Inaugural holder	Patrice Lumumba
Formation	24 June 1960

The position of prime minister was already present in the first government after independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the first prime minister Patrice Emery Lumumba.

The position was restored in 1977, as the title of "First State Commissioner" which, in reality, was weak in comparison to the pre-war office of Prime Minister. The office became vacant in 1997.

Heads of government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960–present)

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Republic of the Congo (1960–1964)
No.		Name		Lifespan	Took office	Left office	Political party
Prime Ministers
	1	Patrice Lumumba		1925–1961	24 June 1960 (appointed)	5 September 1960 (dismissed)	Mouvement National Congolais (Lumumba faction)
	2	Joseph Iléo		1909–1994	5 September 1960	20 September 1960	Mouvement National Congolais (Kalonji faction)
Chairmen of the College of Commissioners-General
	3	Justin Marie Bomboko		1915–2014	4 October 1960	9 February 1961	Independent
Prime Ministers
	—	Antoine Gizenga (disputed)[a]		1916–2019	13 December 1960	5 August 1961	Parti Solidaire Africain (Gizenga faction)
	(2)	Joseph Iléo		1909–1994	9 February 1961	2 August 1961	Mouvement National Congolais (Kalonji faction)
	4	Cyrille Adoula		1908–1978	2 August 1961	30 June 1964	Mouvement National Congolais
	5	Moïse Tshombe		1909–1969	10 July 1964	1 August 1964	CONACO
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1964–1971)
Prime Ministers
	(5)	Moïse Tshombe		1909–1969	1 August 1964	13 October 1965	CONACO
	6	Évariste Kimba		1926–1966	18 October 1965	14 November 1965	CONAKAT
	7	Léonard Mulamba[b]		1928–1986	25 November 1965	26 October 1966	Military
Post Abolished (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
Post Abolished (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
First State Commissioners
	8	Mpinga Kasenda		1914–1994	6 July 1977	6 March 1979	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	9	André Bo-Boliko Lokonga Monse Mihambo		1920–2018	6 March 1979	27 August 1980	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	10	Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond		1918–2003	27 August 1980	23 April 1981[c]	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	11	N'singa Udjuu Ongwabeki Untubu		1923–2021	23 April 1981	5 November 1982	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	12	Kengo Wa Dondo		1927–	5 November 1982	31 October 1986	Popular Movement of the Revolution
Vacant (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
	13	Mabi Mulumba		1931–	22 January 1987	7 March 1988	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	14	Sambwa Pida Nbagui		1930–1998	7 March 1988	26 November 1988	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	(12)	Kengo Wa Dondo		1927–	26 November 1988	4 May 1990	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	15	Lunda Bululu		1942–	4 May 1990	5 July 1990	Popular Movement of the Revolution
		Prime Ministers[d]
		Lunda Bululu		1932–	5 July 1990	1 April 1991	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	16	Mulumba Lukoji		1920–1997	1 April 1991	29 September 1991[e]	Popular Movement of the Revolution
	17	Étienne Tshisekedi		1921–2017	29 September 1991	1 November 1991	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
	18	Bernardin Mungul Diaka		1918–1999	1 November 1991	25 November 1991	Democratic Assembly for the Republic
	(10)	Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond		1918–2003	25 November 1991	15 August 1992	Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans
	(17)	Étienne Tshisekedi		1921–2017	15 August 1992	18 March 1993	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
	19	Faustin Birindwa		1930–1999	18 March 1993	14 January 1994	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
	(12)	Kengo Wa Dondo		1927–	6 July 1994	2 April 1997	Union of Independent Democrats
	(17)	Étienne Tshisekedi		1932–2017	2 April 1997	9 April 1997	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
	20	Likulia Bolongo		1923–	9 April 1997	16 May 1997[f]	Military
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)
Post Abolished (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
Prime Ministers
	21	Antoine Gizenga		1916–2019	30 December 2006	10 October 2008	Unified Lumumbist Party
	22	Adolphe Muzito		1947–	10 October 2008	6 March 2012	Unified Lumumbist Party
	—	Louis Alphonse Koyagialo Acting Prime Minister		1937–2014	6 March 2012	18 April 2012	Unified Lumumbist Party
	23	Augustin Matata Ponyo		1955–	18 April 2012	17 November 2016	People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
	24	Samy Badibanga		1951–	17 November 2016	18 May 2017	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
	25	Bruno Tshibala		1946–	18 May 2017	7 April 2019	Union for Democracy and Social Progress
	26	Sylvestre Ilunga		1937–	20 May 2019	15 February 2021	People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
	27	Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde		1967–	15 February 2021	12 June 2024	People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy
	28	Judith Suminwa Tuluka		1967–	12 June 2024	Incumbent	Union for Democracy and Social Progress

Notes

1. Rebel government at Stanleyville, during the Congo Crisis.
2. Chief of Staff since October 1964, until named Prime Minister after coup of 25 November 1965. Removed from premiership 26 October 1966, following pressure from army high command. Mobutu became head of government as well as head of state. Born Kasaï 1930, Joined Force publique 1949, Sergeant Major by 1960, quickly became an officer. 1962 assigned to command the 3rd Groupement at Kisangani. 'Gained international fame for.. defence of Bukavu and for conducting one of the most decisive battles of the 1964 north-east revolution. When Kisangani was recaptured from rebel forces in 1964 he was named military governor of the entire northeastern region.' 'General Mulamba has always enjoyed great popularity with the troops. He is known for his straightforward approach to problems. He has a sizeable farm outside Kinshasa to which, he has said, he would like to retire some day.' (Sydney Taylor, The New Africans, 1967, p.102)
3. Fled into exile while on an official visit to Belgium.
4. After Law No. 90-002 of 5 July 1990 was promulgated, the position of "First State Commissioner" was replaced with "Prime Minister." See Articles 94 — 98 of the Constitution of Zaire (as amended by Law No. 90-002) for details. Source
5. Resigned after the military riots in Kinshasa.
6. Deposed in the First Congo War.

Other websites

• World Statesmen – Congo (Kinshasa)