Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo was tasked with moving from the state riven by the Second Congo War (1998-2003) to a government based upon a constitution agreed on by consensus. In 2001 President Laurent Kabila was assassinated and his son Joseph Kabila was named head of state.

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History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Early history pre–1876 Kingdom of Kongo 1390–1914 Kingdom of Luba 1585–1889 Kingdom of Lunda 1600–1887 Kingdom of Kuba 1625–1884 Kingdom of Chokwe 1800–1891 Kingdom of Yeke 1856–1891 Colonization 1876–1960 International African Association 1876–1879 International Association of the Congo 1879–1885 Congo Free State 1885–1908 Belgian Congo 1908–1960 Independence post–1960 Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) 1960–1971 Zaire 1971–1997 First Congo War 1996–1997 Second Congo War 1998–2003 Transitional Government 2003–2006
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In July 2002 the Pretoria Accord was signed on withdrawal of foreign forces.

In October 2002, Joseph Kabila negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo. Two months later, the 'Global and All-Inclusive Agreement' was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity.[1]

Prunier writes: For a few months after the signing of the Sun City Agreement, things had stagnated as the delegates to the Intra-Congolese Dialogue kept debating in Pretoria about how to turn the piece of paper they had signed into some kind of reality. On April 1, 2003, they finally adopted the draft constitution which had been presented to them on March 6, and they agreed upon the outline of a transitional government.[2]

On April 7, 2003, Joseph Kabila was sworn in as transitional president.[3] On May 6, 2003, the last of the four agreed vice-presidents was named, Azarias Ruberwa for the RCD-G. He joined Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi for Kabila's government; Jean-Pierre Bemba for the MLC; and Arthur Z'ahidi Ngoma for the political opposition.[4]

The first cabinet was announced on July 1.[3]

On July 17, 2003, the four vice-presidents of the DRC's two-year transitional government took the oath of office in Kinshasa, but a day later on July 18, transitional government officials designated by the RCD-Goma and the MLC refused to take the oath of office because it included swearing allegiance to President Joseph Kabila.[4]

Over the course of September, a reinforced MONUC presence carried out the "Bunia, weapon-free zone" operation to demilitarize the province. They were partially successful, though conflicts continue to permeate the region.

The transitional period came to end with the completion of the 2006 general election and the swearing in of Kabila as President on 6 December 2006.