In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), just hours before the decisive plenary session set to rule on his fate, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Vital Kamerhe, threw in the towel and resigned from his post.
A Special Commission had been established, tasked with analysing the grievances outlined in a petition seeking the removal of five members of the Assembly bureau, including its speaker.
The Grievances Against Kamerhe
More than half of the 500 members of the National Assembly—262 MPs—had signed the petition calling for their Speaker’s removal. The grievances directed at the bureau members can be summarised as follows: accusations of financial mismanagement, non-compliance with internal regulations, and unjust suspension of medical care for deputies and their families.
Before the plenary session, hearings within the Special Commission set the tone, prompting Vital Kamerhe to step down. In his speech, before vacating the chair he had occupied since 2024, he declared: “I have decided, before 110 million Congolese, that my modest person must not block a great institution such as the National Assembly… Today, I am pleased to see that many have joined us and embraced this conviction that so few of us once shared: that of a refoundation of our State around President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi.”
A Victory for Kamerhe’s Opposition
But for his detractors, such as Butembo MP Christian Mbindule, this resignation is an admission of guilt. “Vital Kamerhe dodged the debate and the vote, because he acknowledges the grievances made against him… We would have preferred to confront him in plenary and submit the petition to a vote.” However, the vote will no longer take place, as the resignation, at least for now, renders it unnecessary.
For Remy Mukweso, national MP for Butembo and a member of the presidential majority’s Sacred Union of the Nation, “Vital is the chief architect of what happened to him… he no longer had the MPs’ confidence. He resigned to escape the debate. He is the main person responsible for all that happens at the National Assembly.”
Kamerhe’s Supporters
For supporters of the UNC, the Union for the Congolese Nation—Vital Kamerhe’s party—and other allied movements, this was a political vendetta against their leader. Emile Sumaīli, MP for Shabunda and a senior UNC member, summed up the feeling in this statement: “Vital is a statesman and was forced to face a political, not an administrative, manoeuvre—all the grievances held against him were not his responsibility. Parliamentary oversight falls to the second vice president. And this second vice president was not concerned by the petition, so the real motivation behind it was political. As for the management of National Assembly funds, a report was presented on 12 June 2025 in the chamber before the parliamentary recess.” For Kamerhe’s supporters, there was political harassment. Why?
The Multiple Reasons Mentioned
Political analysts in Kinshasa remind us of the Genval political agreement in Belgium in 2018, which sealed Vital Kamerhe’s support for Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo for the presidential election. Although the details of this agreement remain confidential, a handover between the two men was reportedly envisaged for upcoming presidential contests. And this is where the problem lies. While Kamerhe was positioning himself for this opportunity, debates about a possible constitutional amendment began, with the aim of exploring a way for the current occupant of the Marble Palace—the presidency—to extend his mandate. This version has never been officially confirmed by the Tshisekedi camp.
Other Political Disagreements
Other observers assert rather that the vision of the president of the National Assembly conflicted with that of the government regarding the security situation in the east of the country. While the government expressed reservations about the initiative for an inter-Congolese dialogue proposed by CENCO, Vital Kamerhe was instead supportive of this initiative. Furthermore, Vital Kamerhe, the elected representative for Bukavu, also backed the suggestion made by former South African president Thabo Mbeki for a meeting between President Félix Tshisekedi and Joseph Kabila in South Africa— but so far, this is not on the government’s agenda.
Reactions from President Tshisekedi
While travelling in New York, President Félix Tshisekedi, as the guardian of the constitution, positioned himself above the ongoing political debate in Kinshasa. In a meeting with the press, he declared: “I am not behind Vital Kamerhe’s resignation nor his problems. I do not see why he would want to turn his back on me. I have nothing to do with it. I continue to consider him an ally, a brother.”
This is not the first time Vital Kamerhe has faced political troubles, and the president has always shown his loyalty to him. President Tshisekedi would like to make the separation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers, his credo.
However, for the Kamerhe camp, these setbacks have hidden political reasons. After sixteen months as speaker, it remains to be seen whether Vital Kamerhe will, following this resignation, bounce back as a skilful political leader or whether this marks the end of his political career.