Vital Kamerhe, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has unexpectedly resigned on the eve of a parliamentary session that was expected to vote on his dismissal over allegations of “non-transparent financial management.”
State media confirmed the resignation, noting that Kamerhe submitted his letter to the Conference of Parliamentary Group Leaders.
Reports suggest that tensions with President Félix Tshisekedi, particularly regarding the handling of the security crisis in the country’s east, were the deeper cause of the move.
Speaking from New York, President Tshisekedi described the resignation as an “internal matter” of the legislature, stressing that Kamerhe remained “an ally and a brother.”
A veteran political figure, Kamerhe previously led the National Assembly between 2006 and 2009. He was sentenced in 2020 to 20 years in prison for embezzlement, before being acquitted in 2022, returning to government as Minister of Economy and later as Speaker of Parliament.
The resignation comes amid growing debate over Tshisekedi’s possible bid for a third term, opening the door to a new political chapter in the DRC.
