• DRC Assembly leader Kamerhe resigns amid mismanagement accusations

• Tshisekedi urges calm, denies role in ally’s departure

• Resignation deepens political rift as security, economic woes persist
  

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi called for calm and institutional stability following the resignation of Vital Kamerhe from his post as president of the National Assembly.

Kamerhe, an ally of the president, stepped down on Monday, September 22, 2025, after facing several petitions from lawmakers, including from the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party. The petitions accused him of mismanagement and a lack of transparency in the administration of parliamentary funds.

In his remarks, Tshisekedi stated that as a guarantor of institutional stability, his role is not to interfere in the internal workings of the Assembly, but to ensure everyone's rights are respected. "My role is to see that the rights of everyone are respected and that the institution itself remains stable," he said, adding that each institution handles its own "internal affairs."

The president also reaffirmed his relationship with Kamerhe, calling him an "ally and a brother." Tshisekedi insisted he was not behind the resignation or the tensions within the Assembly's leadership.

Despite challenging the procedures initiated against him, Kamerhe justified his departure by saying it was necessary to preserve national cohesion and refocus the parliament on the country's pressing challenges. Petitions also targeted four other members of the Assembly's bureau: rapporteur Jacques Djoli, his deputy Dominique Munongo, quaestor Chimène Polipoli, and her deputy Grâce Neema.

Kamerhe's resignation comes amid a tense political climate. His party, the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), is experiencing growing divisions, while over 260 lawmakers, mostly from the UDPS, had demanded his removal. They accused him of blocking parliamentary oversight and failing to align with the government's priorities.

The political crisis unfolds as the DRC continues to grapple with persistent economic and security challenges, particularly in the country's east, where armed conflicts and tensions over mineral resources impede development.

Jean-Claude Isaac Tshilumbayi, the first vice president, will serve as the interim leader of the National Assembly until a new president is elected, as per the institution’s internal rules.

Charlène N’dimon