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{{short description|Congolese politician}} {{Short description|Congolese politician (born 1959)}}
{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
| name = Vital Kamerhe | name = Vital Kamerhe
| image = Kamerhe.png | image = Kamerhe.png
| caption = Vital Kamerhe (2010) | caption = Kamerhe in 2010
| office = Leader of the ] | office = ]
| term_start = June 19, 2010 | predecessor = ]
| predecessor = Position established | successor =
| term_start = May 24, 2024
⚫ | office1 = Speaker of the ]
| term_end =
⚫ | predecessor1 = ]
| successor1 = ]
| term_start1 = December 29, 2006 | term_start1 = December 29, 2006
| term_end1 = March 26, 2009 | term_end1 = March 26, 2009
⚫ | office2 = Member of the ]<br />from ]
⚫ | predecessor1 = Thomas Luhaka Losendjola
| successor1 = ] | term_start2 = February 12, 2024
| term_end2 =
| term_start3 = December 29, 2006
| term_end3 = March 26, 2009
| office4 = Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy
| term_start4 = March 23, 2023
| term_end4 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|3|4}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1959|3|4}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
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}} }}


'''Vital Kamerhe''' (born 4 March 1959) is a ] politician who is the chief of staff of President ] and leader of the ] (UNC) opposition party. Previously he was the President of the ] from 2006 to 2009. After resigning from that office, he went into the opposition and founded the UNC. Kamerhe was a candidate in the ]. In 2018 Kamerhe supported Félix Tshisekedi for president and was made his chief of staff after the election. '''Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi''' (born 4 March 1959) is a ] politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Economy and the leader of the ] (UNC) party. He served as the President of the ] from 2006 to 2009. After resigning from that office, he went into the opposition and founded the UNC. He ran in the ]. He supported ] as a coalition partner in the ], and became chief of staff when Tshisekedi took office.<ref name="africanews1">{{cite news | url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/01/29/drc-president-tshisekedi-names-coalition-ally-as-chief-of-staff// | title=DRC president Tshisekedi names coalition ally as Chief of Staff | first=Abdur Rahman | last=Alfa Shaban | date=29 January 2019 | work=Africanews | access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref>

In 2020, Kamerhe was charged with and convicted of embezzlement of US$50 million.<ref name="africanews2" /><ref name="africanews3" /><ref name="Taarifa-1" /><ref name="France24-1" /> The ] described his arrest as unprecedented in recent DRC history.<ref name="France24-2">{{cite news | url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200511-top-dr-congo-presidential-aide-kamerhe-goes-on-trial-for-corruption | title=Top DR Congo presidential aide Kamerhe goes on trial for corruption | date=11 May 2020 | work=France 24}}</ref><ref name="crg1">{{cite web | url=https://www.congoresearchgroup.org/fr/2020/05/07/note-danalyse-affaire-kamerhe-opacite-quand-tu-nous-tiens/ | title=Note d'analyse – Affaire Kamerhe : opacité, quand tu nous tiens | date=7 May 2020 | website=Congo Research Group | language=fr}}</ref> Kamerhe was temporarily replaced as chief of staff when his trial began,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-politics-idUSKBN22O34R/ | title=Congo president replaces chief of staff amid graft trial | date=12 May 2020 | work=Reuters}}</ref> and permanently replaced half a year after he was convicted.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://newscentral.africa/dr-congo-replaces-jailed-chief-of-staff-with-guylain-nyembo/ | title=DR Congo Replaces Jailed Chief of Staff with Guylain Nyembo | first=Olorunwa | last=Lawal | date=26 January 2021 | work=News Central TV}}</ref> Kamerhe appealed his conviction, and a second appeal led to his acquittal in 2022.<ref name="africanews4" /><ref name="africareport2" /> In 2023, he rejoined the government as Félix Tshisekedi's deputy prime minister in charge of the economy.<ref name="africanews3" />


Kamerhe was charged with corruption in April 2020, and was incarcerated in the Makala Prison. Kamerhe was found guilty on 20 June 2020 and sentenced to 20 years of forced labour due to embezzling more than USD 48 million of public funds. It was the first time in the ] that a high-level politician was convicted of corruption. Despite the fact that he was convicted, he still is the chief of staff of President ].
==Biography== ==Biography==
===Early life and education=== ===Early life and education===
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He began his primary school in ] and then in ]. He then continued in the ], in ], where he finishes his primary school. He began his primary school in ] and then in ]. He then continued in the ], in ], where he finishes his primary school.
School years 1975-1976 and 1976–1977, he attended the (former College St. Francois-Xavier) in Kikwit Sacré-Coeur,Bandundu province. He then moved to Kananga (] Province) and finally, after one year, to ] where he obtained his State degree in 1980 (Institut Mulemba). This experience led him to learn all four national languages of Congo namely ], ], ] and ]. He also speaks fluent French.<ref name="Le Phare" /> School years 1975-1976 and 1976–1977, he attended the (former College St. Francois-Xavier) in Kikwit Sacré-Coeur, Bandundu province. He then moved to Kananga (] Province) and finally, after one year, to ] where he obtained his State degree in 1980 (Institut Mulemba). This experience led him to learn all four national languages of Congo namely ], ], ] and ]. He also speaks fluent French.<ref name="Le Phare" />


From there he completed his studies at the ], where he received his degree in Economics in 1987 with distinction. There he stayed as teaching assistant.<ref name="Kam_portr"/> From there he completed his studies at the ], where he received his degree in Economics in 1987 with distinction. There he stayed as teaching assistant.<ref name="Kam_portr"/>
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===Under Mobutu=== ===Under Mobutu===
Kamerhe started his political career in 1984 with the ] (Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social). During the democratic transition under ], he was a member of the Rassemblement des forces Sociales et Federalistes (RSF) of Vincent de Paul Lunda Bululu and was also president of the Jeunesse de l'Union Sacrée de l'opposition Radicale et Alliés (JUSORAL), an opposition youth sport. Kamerhe started his political career in 1984 with the ] (UDPS). During the democratic transition under ], he was a member of the ''Rassemblement des forces Sociales et Federalistes'' (RSF) of ], and he was president of the youth wing of the Sacred Union of the Radical Opposition and Allies (]: ''Jeunesse de l'Union Sacrée de l'opposition Radicale et Alliés''; JUSORAL).<ref name="icg1">{{cite report | title=Congo: The Electoral Dilemma | publisher=International Crisis Group | id=Africa Report N° 175 | date=5 May 2011 | url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/democratic-republic-congo/congo-electoral-dilemma}}</ref> Between 1993 and 1995, he worked in several public functions.
⚫ * 1993: Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of the Environment, Tourism and Directeur de Cabinet au Ministère de l’Environnement, Tourisme et Conservation de la Nature
Between 1993 and 1995 he worked in several public functions:
⚫ * 1994: Coordinator of the Prime Minister's Cabinet
⚫ * 1993 : Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of the Environment, Tourism and Directeur de Cabinet au Ministère de l’Environnement, Tourisme et Conservation de la Nature
⚫ * 1994–1995: Director of the Cabinet for the Minister of Higher Education and University, ]; member of Lunda Bululu's RSF
⚫ * 1994 : Coordinator of the Prime Minister's Cabinet
⚫ * 1994-1995: Director of the Cabinet for the Minister of Higher Education and University, Mushobekwa Kalimba wa Katana, member of Lunda Bululu's RSF
There is some controversy over whether he was a member of a Mobutist youth league (Frojemo), led by General Etienne Nzimbi Ngbale Kongo wa Basa, a fact his opponent often use to discredit him.<ref name="Fresh air"/>


===Under Kabila=== ===Under Laurent Kabila===
Under ], Kamerhe became the deputy chief of staff of Etienne-Richard Mbaya, the minister of reconstruction, then: {{citation needed span|Under ], Kamerhe became the deputy chief of staff of Etienne-Richard Mbaya, the minister of reconstruction|date=November 2023}}. He then held the following positions.
* From 1997 to 1998 : Director of the Service National (a quasi-military service set up by ]) * {{citation needed span|1997–1998: Director of the Service National (a quasi-military service set up by ])|date=November 2023}}
* In 1998 : Finance Counselor at the Ministère de la Défense Nationale et Anciens Combattants, with the general ] * {{citation needed span|1998: Finance Counselor at the Ministère de la Défense Nationale et Anciens Combattants, with the general ]|date=November 2023}}
⚫ * From 2000: Deputy commissioner-general at the General Commission for ] affairs.<ref name="icg1" />

⚫ and finally deputy commissioner in charge of ] affairs.<ref name="Fresh air" />


====Role in the peace process of the Great Lakes region==== ====Role in the peace process of the Great Lakes region====
A founding member of the ] party in 2002, Vital Kamerhe was one of the leading figures in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was even nicknamed "le Pacificateur", the "Peacemaker". As Commissioner General of the Government responsible for monitoring the peace process in the ] he was one of the principal negotiators of the 2002 peace deal.<ref name="Peace_Deal"/> {{citation needed span|A founding member of the ] party in 2002, Vital Kamerhe was one of the leading figures in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was even nicknamed "the Peacemaker" (]: ''"le Pacificateur"'').|date=November 2023}} As Commissioner General of the Government responsible for monitoring the peace process in the ] he was one of the principal negotiators of the 2002 peace deal.<ref name="Peace_Deal"/>{{failed verification|date=November 2023}}
In 2003, he was appointed Minister of Press and Information in the transitional government.


====Role in the 2006 election campaign==== ====Role in the 2006 election campaign====
In July 2004, he took on the leadership of the ] and prepared ]'s election campaign, which he received a lot of credit for. He was elected as parliamentarian in ] with one of the highest scores in the country and on December 29, 2006 he was elected president of the National Assembly.<ref name="Fresh air" /> On 1 July 2004, he began leading the ] and directing ]'s ].<ref name="icg1" /> {{citation needed span|He was elected as parliamentarian in ] with one of the highest scores in the country.|date=November 2023}} He was elected deputy for ] in the National Assembly in 2006, and he served as president of the National Assembly until 26 March 2009.<ref name="icg1" />


===As President of the National Assembly===
===Events since 2009===
In 2009, as President of the National Assembly, he questioned Kabila and his own party over the Umoja Wetu operations that allowed several thousand Rwandan troops to deploy into the Congo without informing the parliament.<ref name="afp"/> On January 21, 2009 he released a statement to ] expressing his disappointment<ref name="Incensed"/> for the joint military operations between the Congolese and Rwandan army in the Kivu, conducted without informing the National Assembly and the Senate and thus violating the article 213 of the constitution.<ref name="Congo_Const"/> In 2009, as President of the National Assembly, he questioned Kabila and his own party over the Umoja Wetu operations that allowed several thousand Rwandan troops to deploy into the Congo without informing the parliament.<ref name="afp"/> On January 21, 2009, he released a statement to ] expressing his disappointment<ref name="Incensed"/> for the joint military operations between the Congolese and Rwandan army in the Kivu, conducted without informing the National Assembly and the Senate and thus violating the article 213 of the constitution.<ref name="Congo_Const"/>


On March 25, 2009, he delivered a speech resigning as President of the National Assembly.<ref name="LAVDC"/><ref name="bbc"/> On December 14, 2010 Kamerhe officially quit the PPRD, announcing his candidacy for the ] and the creation of his new party,<ref name="Kam_decl"/> the UNC,<ref name="UNC_Fly"/> which had its official inauguration in February 2011. He gained 7.74% of the country's vote in the 2011 presidential election under the UNC name. On March 25, 2009, he delivered a speech resigning as President of the National Assembly.<ref name="LAVDC"/><ref name="bbc"/> On 14 December 2010, Kamerhe officially quit the PPRD, announcing his candidacy for the ] and the creation of his new party,<ref name="Kam_decl"/> the UNC.<ref name="UNC_Fly"/> The UNC had its official inauguration in February 2011, and Kamerhe got 7.74% of the vote in the 2011 presidential election under its name.


On April 23, 2024, Vital Kamerhe was chosen as the “]” candidate for president of the Assembly. On May 22, Vital Kamerhe was elected president of the National Assembly.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240522-rdc-vital-kamerhe-%C3%A9lu-sans-surprise-pr%C3%A9sident-de-l-assembl%C3%A9e-nationale | title= Afrique RDC: Vital Kamerhe élu sans surprise président de l'Assemblée nationale | first= | last= | date=22 May 2024 | work=Radio France International}}</ref>
⚫ In the ] Kamerhe made an alliance to support Félix Tshisekedi's candidacy, leader of the ]. In exchange he became Tshisekedi's chief of staff in January 2019.<ref name="Kamale">{{Cite news|last=Kamale |first=Jean-Yves |date=20 June 2020 |title=Congo president's chief of staff guilty in corruption trial |newspaper=] |location=] |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/world/congo-presidents-chief-of-staff-guilty-in-corruption-trial/article_e357b465-0600-5420-a18f-ded25626a332.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621172823/https://www.heraldextra.com/news/world/congo-presidents-chief-of-staff-guilty-in-corruption-trial/article_e357b465-0600-5420-a18f-ded25626a332.html |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Under Félix Tshisekedi===
⚫ On 8 April 2020, Kamerhe was arrested and detained in Makala prison on charges of corruption and embezzlement of $48 million dollars.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tasamba |first=James |date=12 April 2020 |title=DR Congo court remands president's chief of staff |agency=AA (Anadolu Agency) |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/dr-congo-court-remands-presidents-chief-of-staff/1801442 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621181252/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/dr-congo-court-remands-presidents-chief-of-staff/1801442 |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 June 2020, Kamerhe, was sentenced to twenty years of forced labor and ten years of ineligibility and inability to access public office for embezzlement, aggravated corruption and money laundering.<ref name="Kamale" /><ref name="France24-1">{{Cite news|title=DR Congo court gives 20-year sentence to president’s chief of staff Kamerhe for graft |date=20 June 2020 |publisher=France24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200620-dr-congo-court-gives-20-year-sentence-to-president-s-chief-of-staff-kamerhe-for-graft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621170851/https://www.france24.com/en/20200620-dr-congo-court-gives-20-year-sentence-to-president-s-chief-of-staff-kamerhe-for-graft |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> His co-defendant, the Lebanese businessman Samih Jammal, received the same sentences and an expulsion order after the sentences are finished.<ref name="Kamale" /> A third defendant, Jeannot Muhima, was sentenced to two years of forced labor.<ref name="Kamale" /> The court also ordered the confiscation of the accounts and properties of family members of Kamerhe, as confiscation applies to all illicitly obtained things regardless of subsequent owner.<ref name="Taarifa-1">{{Cite news|title=DRC’s Vital Kamerhe Loses Fraud Case |newspaper=Taarifa |location=] |date=20 June 2020 |url=https://taarifa.rw/drcs-vital-kamerhe-loses-fraud-case/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621175137/https://taarifa.rw/drcs-vital-kamerhe-loses-fraud-case/ |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Role in the 2018 election campaign====
⚫ In the ], Kamerhe supported the candidacy of UDPS leader ]. The UDPS allied with the UNC to form the ] coalition, and Tshisekedi agreed that if he won, he would make Kamerhe his prime minister.<ref name="africanews1"/> After the elections, Tshisekedi did become president, but the composition of parliament made it politically infeasible for him to name Kamerhe as prime minister.<ref name="africanews1" /> He instead made Kamerhe his chief of staff—one of the first senior positions he filled upon taking office.<ref name="africanews1" /><ref name="Kamale">{{Cite news|last=Kamale |first=Jean-Yves |date=20 June 2020 |title=Congo president's chief of staff guilty in corruption trial |newspaper=] |location=] |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/world/congo-presidents-chief-of-staff-guilty-in-corruption-trial/article_e357b465-0600-5420-a18f-ded25626a332.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621172823/https://www.heraldextra.com/news/world/congo-presidents-chief-of-staff-guilty-in-corruption-trial/article_e357b465-0600-5420-a18f-ded25626a332.html |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Corruption trial====
⚫ On 8 April 2020, Kamerhe was arrested and detained in ], facing charges of having embezzled up to $57 million from an infrastructure project.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tasamba |first=James |date=12 April 2020 |title=DR Congo court remands president's chief of staff |agency=Anadolu Agency |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/dr-congo-court-remands-presidents-chief-of-staff/1801442 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621181252/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/dr-congo-court-remands-presidents-chief-of-staff/1801442 |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Commenting on his arrest, the ] wrote: "Never in Congo's political history over the past two decades has such an important player on the political scene been put behind bars."<ref name="France24-2" /><ref name="crg1" /> On 20 June 2020, Kamerhe was found guilty of aggravated corruption, money laundering, and embezzling $48 million.<ref name="africanews2" /><ref name="africanews3" /><ref name="Taarifa-1" /><ref name="France24-1">{{Cite news|title=DR Congo court gives 20-year sentence to president's chief of staff Kamerhe for graft |date=20 June 2020 |publisher=France24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200620-dr-congo-court-gives-20-year-sentence-to-president-s-chief-of-staff-kamerhe-for-graft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621170851/https://www.france24.com/en/20200620-dr-congo-court-gives-20-year-sentence-to-president-s-chief-of-staff-kamerhe-for-graft |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was sentenced to twenty years of forced labour and ten years of ineligibility to vote or hold public office.<ref name="africanews2">{{cite news | url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/08/08/vital-kamerhe-appeal-hearing-against-corruption-charges-postponed-again// | title=Vital Kamerhe appeal hearing against corruption charges postponed again | first=John Paul | last=Ging | date=8 August 2020 | work=Africanews}}</ref><ref name="Kamale" /><ref name="africanews3">{{cite news | url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/06/20/anti-corruption-trial-in-drc-kamerhe-sentenced-to-20-years-hard-labour/ | title=DR Congo president's ex-chief of staff jailed 20 years for corruption | first=Abdur Rahman | last=Alfa Shaban | date=21 June 2020 | work=Africanews}}</ref> One of his co-defendants, the Lebanese businessman Samih Jammal, was sentenced to twenty years of forced labour, to be followed by expulsion from the DRC.<ref name="Kamale" /> Another co-defendant, Jeannot Muhima Ndoole, was sentenced to two years of forced labour.<ref name="Kamale" /> The court also ordered the confiscation from the defendants' relatives of goods that it found to be proceeds of the defendants' crimes, noting that "the things produced by the offense can always be confiscated, regardless of the owner."<ref name="Taarifa-1">{{Cite news|title=DRC's Vital Kamerhe Loses Fraud Case |newspaper=Taarifa |location=] |date=20 June 2020 |url=https://taarifa.rw/drcs-vital-kamerhe-loses-fraud-case/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621175137/https://taarifa.rw/drcs-vital-kamerhe-loses-fraud-case/ |archive-date=21 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kamerhe appealed his conviction.<ref name="africanews2" /> ], the secretary general of the UNC<ref name="africanews2" /> and Kamerhe's brother-in-law,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theafricareport.com/17049/drc-whos-who-in-the-new-ministerial-crew/ | title=DRC: Who's who in the new ministerial crew | first1=Romain | last1=Gras | first2=Stanis | last2=Bujakera Tshiamala | date=9 September 2019 | work=The Africa Report}}</ref> expressed confidence that Kamerhe's prosecution had been politically motivated.<ref name="africanews2" /> On 18 June 2021, in its first appeal decision, the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeals upheld Kamerhe, Jammal, and Ndoole's convictions but reduced their sentences.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theafricareport.com/99354/drc-kamerhe-loses-his-appeal-and-his-party-threatens-to-drop-its-alliance-with-tshisekedi/ | title=DRC: Kamerhe loses his appeal and his party threatens to drop its alliance with Tshisekedi | first=Stanis | last=Bujakera Tshiamala | date=18 June 2021 | work=The Africa Report}}</ref> Kamerhe was conditionally released from prison in December 2021, on the grounds that his health had deteriorated and he needed medical care outside of prison while awaiting a second appeal.<ref name="africareport1">{{cite news |title=DRC: Under what conditions has Vital Kamerhe been released? |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/154150/drc-under-what-conditions-has-vital-kamerhe-been-released/ |work=The Africa Report |date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627103820/https://www.theafricareport.com/154150/drc-under-what-conditions-has-vital-kamerhe-been-released/ |archive-date=27 June 2022}}</ref> On 23 June 2022, in its second appeal decision, the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeals acquitted Kamerhe and Jammal, saying there had not been enough evidence for a prosecution.<ref name="africanews4">{{cite news | url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/06/24/drc-vital-kamerhe-acquitted-of-embezzlement-conviction/ | title=DRC: Vital Kamerhe acquitted of embezzlement conviction | date=24 June 2022 | work=Africanews}}</ref><ref name="africareport2">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-27 |title=DRC: Keeping a low profile, Vital Kamerhe savours his freedom |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/217611/drc-keeping-a-low-profile-vital-kamerhe-savours-his-freedom/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The Africa Report |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="usdos">{{cite report | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/ | title=2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Democratic Republic of the Congo | publisher=U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor}}</ref> In its 2022 country report on the DRC, the ] took Kamerhe's acquittal as evidence that "officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity," presenting it as an example of how "ack of enforcement of court decisions in corruption cases contributed to impunity, as rulings were often overturned in appellate proceedings or dismissed due to procedural errors."<ref name="usdos" />

====Return to government====
On 25 March 2023, Félix Tshisekedi reappointed Kamerhe to his government, this time as vice prime minister in charge of the economy.<ref name="africareport3">{{cite news |title=DRC: Vital Kamerhe's spectacular comeback |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/296008/drc-vital-kamerhes-spectacular-comeback/ |work=The Africa Report |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328182011/https://www.theafricareport.com/296008/drc-vital-kamerhes-spectacular-comeback/ |archive-date=28 March 2023}}</ref> On 22 May 2024, he was again elected as Speaker of the National Assembly and assumed office on May 24.<ref>{{cite news |title=DRC: Ally of President Tshisekedi elected head of parliament |url=https://www.africanews.com/2024/05/23/drc-ally-of-president-tshisekedi-elected-head-of-parliament/ |work=Africanews |language=en |date=23 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bagheni |first1=Prince |title=RDC/Ass. Nat. : pourquoi Vital Kamerhe refuse d'occuper le bureau laisse par Mboso |url=https://election-net.com/article/rdcass-nat-pourquoi-vital-kamerhe-refuse-doccuper-le-bureau-laisse-par-mboso |access-date=24 May 2024 |work=Electionnet |date=24 May 2024 |language=fr}}</ref>


==Family== ==Family==
He is the brother-in-law of ]. Kamerhe is the brother-in-law of ].<ref name="africanews2" /> He married Amida Shatur on February 19, 2019.


==References== ==References==
Line 81: Line 98:


<ref name="Kam_portr"></ref> <ref name="Kam_portr"></ref>

<ref name="Fresh air"></ref>


<ref name="Peace_Deal"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022162306/http://articles.cnn.com/2002-12-17/world/congo.deal_1_congolese-democracy-laurent-kabila-congo-president-joseph-kabila?_s=PM:WORLD |date=October 22, 2010 }}, "accessed on 01/30/2011"</ref> <ref name="Peace_Deal"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022162306/http://articles.cnn.com/2002-12-17/world/congo.deal_1_congolese-democracy-laurent-kabila-congo-president-joseph-kabila?_s=PM:WORLD |date=October 22, 2010 }}, "accessed on 01/30/2011"</ref>


<ref name="afp">, AFP, 27 February 2009.</ref> <ref name="afp">, AFP, 27 February 2009.</ref>


<ref name="Incensed">, Sapa-AFP (''IOL''), 22 January 2009.</ref> <ref name="Incensed">, Sapa-AFP (''IOL''), 22 January 2009.</ref>

Latest revision as of 07:08, 27 December 2024

Congolese politician (born 1959)
His ExcellencyVital Kamerhe
Kamerhe in 2010
President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 24, 2024
Preceded byChristophe Mboso
In office
December 29, 2006 – March 26, 2009
Preceded byThomas Luhaka
Succeeded byEvariste Boshab
Member of the National Assembly
from Bukavu
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 12, 2024
In office
December 29, 2006 – March 26, 2009
Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 23, 2023
Personal details
Born (1959-03-04) 4 March 1959 (age 65)
Bukavu, Belgian Congo
Political partyUnion for the Congolese Nation
SpouseAmida Shatur
ResidenceDemocratic Republic of Congo
Websitehttp://www.vital-kamerhe.com/

Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi (born 4 March 1959) is a Congolese politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Economy and the leader of the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) party. He served as the President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2006 to 2009. After resigning from that office, he went into the opposition and founded the UNC. He ran in the 2011 presidential election. He supported Félix Tshisekedi as a coalition partner in the 2018 presidential election, and became chief of staff when Tshisekedi took office.

In 2020, Kamerhe was charged with and convicted of embezzlement of US$50 million. The Congo Research Group described his arrest as unprecedented in recent DRC history. Kamerhe was temporarily replaced as chief of staff when his trial began, and permanently replaced half a year after he was convicted. Kamerhe appealed his conviction, and a second appeal led to his acquittal in 2022. In 2023, he rejoined the government as Félix Tshisekedi's deputy prime minister in charge of the economy.

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Bukavu, Sud-Kivu, on March 4, 1959, Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi is the son of Constantin Kamerhe Kanyginyi and Alphonsine Mwa Nkingi. Originally from the Shi community of the Walungu territory, he is married and father of 9 children.

He began his primary school in Bukavu and then in Goma. He then continued in the Kasai-Oriental, in Gandajika, where he finishes his primary school. School years 1975-1976 and 1976–1977, he attended the Institut Sadisana (former College St. Francois-Xavier) in Kikwit Sacré-Coeur, Bandundu province. He then moved to Kananga (Kasai-Occidental Province) and finally, after one year, to Mbuji-Mayi where he obtained his State degree in 1980 (Institut Mulemba). This experience led him to learn all four national languages of Congo namely Kikongo, Lingala, Kiswahili and Tshiluba. He also speaks fluent French.

From there he completed his studies at the University of Kinshasa, where he received his degree in Economics in 1987 with distinction. There he stayed as teaching assistant.

Political career

Concert/rally for the UNC candidate in 2011.

Under Mobutu

Kamerhe started his political career in 1984 with the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). During the democratic transition under Mobutu Sese Seko, he was a member of the Rassemblement des forces Sociales et Federalistes (RSF) of fr:Vincent de Paul Lunda Bululu, and he was president of the youth wing of the Sacred Union of the Radical Opposition and Allies (French: Jeunesse de l'Union Sacrée de l'opposition Radicale et Alliés; JUSORAL). Between 1993 and 1995, he worked in several public functions.

  • 1993: Director of the Cabinet of the Ministry of the Environment, Tourism and Directeur de Cabinet au Ministère de l’Environnement, Tourisme et Conservation de la Nature
  • 1994: Coordinator of the Prime Minister's Cabinet
  • 1994–1995: Director of the Cabinet for the Minister of Higher Education and University, fr:Mushobekwa Kalimba wa Katana; member of Lunda Bululu's RSF

Under Laurent Kabila

Under Laurent Kabila, Kamerhe became the deputy chief of staff of Etienne-Richard Mbaya, the minister of reconstruction. He then held the following positions.

  • 1997–1998: Director of the Service National (a quasi-military service set up by Laurent Kabila)
  • 1998: Finance Counselor at the Ministère de la Défense Nationale et Anciens Combattants, with the general Denis Kalume
  • From 2000: Deputy commissioner-general at the General Commission for MONUC affairs.

Role in the peace process of the Great Lakes region

A founding member of the PPRD party in 2002, Vital Kamerhe was one of the leading figures in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was even nicknamed "the Peacemaker" (French: "le Pacificateur"). As Commissioner General of the Government responsible for monitoring the peace process in the Great Lakes region he was one of the principal negotiators of the 2002 peace deal.

Role in the 2006 election campaign

On 1 July 2004, he began leading the PPRD and directing Joseph Kabila's 2006 campaign for president. He was elected as parliamentarian in Bukavu with one of the highest scores in the country. He was elected deputy for South Kivu in the National Assembly in 2006, and he served as president of the National Assembly until 26 March 2009.

As President of the National Assembly

In 2009, as President of the National Assembly, he questioned Kabila and his own party over the Umoja Wetu operations that allowed several thousand Rwandan troops to deploy into the Congo without informing the parliament. On January 21, 2009, he released a statement to Radio Okapi expressing his disappointment for the joint military operations between the Congolese and Rwandan army in the Kivu, conducted without informing the National Assembly and the Senate and thus violating the article 213 of the constitution.

On March 25, 2009, he delivered a speech resigning as President of the National Assembly. On 14 December 2010, Kamerhe officially quit the PPRD, announcing his candidacy for the 2011 presidential election and the creation of his new party, the UNC. The UNC had its official inauguration in February 2011, and Kamerhe got 7.74% of the vote in the 2011 presidential election under its name.

On April 23, 2024, Vital Kamerhe was chosen as the “Sacred Union” candidate for president of the Assembly. On May 22, Vital Kamerhe was elected president of the National Assembly.

Under Félix Tshisekedi

Role in the 2018 election campaign

In the 2018 presidential election, Kamerhe supported the candidacy of UDPS leader Félix Tshisekedi. The UDPS allied with the UNC to form the Heading for Change coalition, and Tshisekedi agreed that if he won, he would make Kamerhe his prime minister. After the elections, Tshisekedi did become president, but the composition of parliament made it politically infeasible for him to name Kamerhe as prime minister. He instead made Kamerhe his chief of staff—one of the first senior positions he filled upon taking office.

Corruption trial

On 8 April 2020, Kamerhe was arrested and detained in Makala Central Prison, facing charges of having embezzled up to $57 million from an infrastructure project. Commenting on his arrest, the Congo Research Group wrote: "Never in Congo's political history over the past two decades has such an important player on the political scene been put behind bars." On 20 June 2020, Kamerhe was found guilty of aggravated corruption, money laundering, and embezzling $48 million. He was sentenced to twenty years of forced labour and ten years of ineligibility to vote or hold public office. One of his co-defendants, the Lebanese businessman Samih Jammal, was sentenced to twenty years of forced labour, to be followed by expulsion from the DRC. Another co-defendant, Jeannot Muhima Ndoole, was sentenced to two years of forced labour. The court also ordered the confiscation from the defendants' relatives of goods that it found to be proceeds of the defendants' crimes, noting that "the things produced by the offense can always be confiscated, regardless of the owner."

Kamerhe appealed his conviction. Aimé Boji, the secretary general of the UNC and Kamerhe's brother-in-law, expressed confidence that Kamerhe's prosecution had been politically motivated. On 18 June 2021, in its first appeal decision, the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeals upheld Kamerhe, Jammal, and Ndoole's convictions but reduced their sentences. Kamerhe was conditionally released from prison in December 2021, on the grounds that his health had deteriorated and he needed medical care outside of prison while awaiting a second appeal. On 23 June 2022, in its second appeal decision, the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeals acquitted Kamerhe and Jammal, saying there had not been enough evidence for a prosecution. In its 2022 country report on the DRC, the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor took Kamerhe's acquittal as evidence that "officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity," presenting it as an example of how "ack of enforcement of court decisions in corruption cases contributed to impunity, as rulings were often overturned in appellate proceedings or dismissed due to procedural errors."

Return to government

On 25 March 2023, Félix Tshisekedi reappointed Kamerhe to his government, this time as vice prime minister in charge of the economy. On 22 May 2024, he was again elected as Speaker of the National Assembly and assumed office on May 24.

Family

Kamerhe is the brother-in-law of Aimé Boji. He married Amida Shatur on February 19, 2019.

References

  1. ^ Alfa Shaban, Abdur Rahman (29 January 2019). "DRC president Tshisekedi names coalition ally as Chief of Staff". Africanews. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  2. ^ Ging, John Paul (8 August 2020). "Vital Kamerhe appeal hearing against corruption charges postponed again". Africanews.
  3. ^ Alfa Shaban, Abdur Rahman (21 June 2020). "DR Congo president's ex-chief of staff jailed 20 years for corruption". Africanews.
  4. ^ "DRC's Vital Kamerhe Loses Fraud Case". Taarifa. Rwanda. 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  5. ^ "DR Congo court gives 20-year sentence to president's chief of staff Kamerhe for graft". France24. 20 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Top DR Congo presidential aide Kamerhe goes on trial for corruption". France 24. 11 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Note d'analyse – Affaire Kamerhe : opacité, quand tu nous tiens". Congo Research Group (in French). 7 May 2020.
  8. "Congo president replaces chief of staff amid graft trial". Reuters. 12 May 2020.
  9. Lawal, Olorunwa (26 January 2021). "DR Congo Replaces Jailed Chief of Staff with Guylain Nyembo". News Central TV.
  10. ^ "DRC: Vital Kamerhe acquitted of embezzlement conviction". Africanews. 24 June 2022.
  11. ^ "DRC: Keeping a low profile, Vital Kamerhe savours his freedom". The Africa Report. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  12. "CSIS - The Road to Presidential Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Feb 2, 2011" "The question of the name is part of a pseudo-political campaign aiming at depicting Vital Kamerhe as a "rwandaise", hence enemy of the congolese people. Vital Kamerhe himself speaks about this issue during the conference held at the CSIS, in Washington DC on February 2nd, 2011. The question and answer related to this topic can be heard starting at 00:56:26"
  13. ^ " Élogieux cursus de Vital Kamerhe, président l’Assemblée nationale " Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, January 10, 2007, copy on CongoForum.be
  14. "Radio Okapi (2006)"
  15. ^ Congo: The Electoral Dilemma (Report). International Crisis Group. 5 May 2011. Africa Report N° 175.
  16. "CNN - DR Congo peace deal signed - December 17, 2002" Archived October 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, "accessed on 01/30/2011"
  17. "Call for DR Congo speaker to quit", AFP, 27 February 2009.
  18. "Kabila decision incensed Congolese", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 22 January 2009.
  19. ""Constitution de la République Démocratique du Congo"". Archived from the original on 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  20. "LAVDC Radio - Jeudi 26 mars 2009"
  21. "Congolese assembly speaker quits". BBC. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  22. "DECLARATION POLITIQUE DE L’HONORABLE VITAL KAMERHE, PRESIDENT NATIONAL DE L’UNION POUR LA NATION CONGOLAISE, UNC, en sigle (Kinshasa, Mardi 14 décembre 2010)"
  23. "UNC Party Flyer - released on December 14, 2010"
  24. "Afrique RDC: Vital Kamerhe élu sans surprise président de l'Assemblée nationale". Radio France International. 22 May 2024.
  25. ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (20 June 2020). "Congo president's chief of staff guilty in corruption trial". The Daily Herald. Provo, Utah. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  26. Tasamba, James (12 April 2020). "DR Congo court remands president's chief of staff". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  27. Gras, Romain; Bujakera Tshiamala, Stanis (9 September 2019). "DRC: Who's who in the new ministerial crew". The Africa Report.
  28. Bujakera Tshiamala, Stanis (18 June 2021). "DRC: Kamerhe loses his appeal and his party threatens to drop its alliance with Tshisekedi". The Africa Report.
  29. "DRC: Under what conditions has Vital Kamerhe been released?". The Africa Report. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022.
  30. ^ 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Democratic Republic of the Congo (Report). U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
  31. "DRC: Vital Kamerhe's spectacular comeback". The Africa Report. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023.
  32. "DRC: Ally of President Tshisekedi elected head of parliament". Africanews. 23 May 2024.
  33. Bagheni, Prince (24 May 2024). "RDC/Ass. Nat. : pourquoi Vital Kamerhe refuse d'occuper le bureau laisse par Mboso". Electionnet (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
Democratic Republic of the Congo Candidates in the 2011 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election
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