Twelve politicians from the Union Sacrée, the alliance supporting President Félix Tshisekedi’s government in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are competing to replace Vital Kamerhe as the President of the National Assembly.
Kamerhe resigned from this position on September 22, 2025, following pressure from members of the National Assembly who accused him of mismanaging funds and undermining the credibility of the legislative body.
It was expected that the person replacing Kamerhe would come from his party, the UNC, in accordance with the agreement within the Union Sacrée. However, it appears that many politicians, including some long-time members of DRC politics, are vying for this position.
Among the candidates is one from the UNC party, two from Tshisekedi’s UDPS party, and one from each of the other parties within the Union Sacrée.
On October 22, Willy Buhini Mishiki, from the PEP AAP party, opposed the idea of replacing Kamerhe with a member of his own party, arguing that such a move is not in line with democratic principles.
“The Union Sacrée does not have representatives in the National Assembly. Therefore, there is no reason to appoint a single candidate,” he said.
Among the candidates is Christophe Mboso N’Kodia, who served as the President of the National Assembly from 2021 to 2024 and is currently the Second Vice President of the Assembly.
Mboso has expressed his belief that he is the best candidate to lead the Assembly, based on his experience in the institution and in the country’s politics.
President Tshisekedi’s decision as leader of the Union Sacrée could determine who will represent the alliance in this competition, with the potential for the candidate to win.
