Influential politician Vital Kamerhe resigned on Monday as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national assembly under pressure. The 66-year-old stepped down ahead of a possible impeachment vote, according to state broadcaster RTNC and the Congolese Press Agency.
Officially, Kamerhe faces accusations of opaque bookkeeping, rushing votes, and stripping privileges from lawmakers within the lower house. Unofficially, observers suggest he did not strongly support President Felix Tshisekedi amid the M23’s capture of mineral-rich eastern regions.
Kamerhe’s stance on constitutional reforms, seen by critics as distancing himself from Tshisekedi, fueled tensions within the ruling coalition. Political analyst Christian Moleka told AFP that Kamerhe’s positions reflected growing friction between him and the president’s inner circle.
A long-time Congolese power broker, Kamerhe previously led the assembly from 2006 to 2009 under former President Joseph Kabila. He later shifted allegiance to Tshisekedi in 2019, helping secure the president’s first term in a surprising political reversal.
Tshisekedi appointed Kamerhe as his aide until 2020, when he was sentenced to 20 years for embezzling over $50 million. Following his release and acquittal in 2022, Kamerhe returned to politics, serving as economy minister in 2023 before reclaiming assembly leadership.
In May 2024, armed men attacked Kamerhe’s Kinshasa home, then advanced toward Tshisekedi’s offices, described as a failed coup attempt by authorities. Kamerhe survived the attack, while supporters denounced the episode as a murky assassination attempt, deepening the capital’s sense of political unease.
His resignation marks the latest twist in Congo’s turbulent politics, underscoring enduring rivalries and the fragility of alliances in Kinshasa.