Vital Kamerhe
Encyclopedia
Vital Kamerhe is a Congolese
politician. Former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and former Minister of Information, he is currently Honorary President of the National Assembly, founder and leader of the UNC party (Union pour la Nation Congolaise) and candidate to the 2011 presidential election in the DRC.
, Sud-Kivu
, on March 4, 1959, Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi is the son of Constantine Kamerhe Kanyginyi and Alphonsine Mwa Nkingi. Originally from the Shi community of the Walungu
territory, he is married and father of 8 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.
Between 1993 and 1995 he works in several public functions:
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.
and finally deputy commissioner in charge of MONUC affairs.
In 2003, he is appointed Minister of Press and Information in the transitional government.
's election campaign, which he receives a lot of credit for. He is elected as parliamentarian in Bukavu
with one of the highest scores in the country and on December 29, 2006 he is elected president of the National Assembly.
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 releases 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 delivers a speech resigning as President of the National Assembly.
On December 14, 2010 Kamerhe officially quits the PPRD announcing his candidacy to the Presidential Elections of 2011 and the creation of his new party, the UNC (Union pour la Nation Congolaise), which is expected to have its official inauguration in February 2011.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
politician. Former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Composition of the National Assembly...
and former Minister of Information, he is currently Honorary President of the National Assembly, founder and leader of the UNC party (Union pour la Nation Congolaise) and candidate to the 2011 presidential election in the DRC.
Early life and education
Born in BukavuBukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
, Sud-Kivu
Sud-Kivu
Sud-Kivu is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Bukavu.Following the 2005 Constitution , 25 new provinces were to be created from the 10 current provinces within 36 months . As of October 2010, this had not taken place...
, on March 4, 1959, Vital Kamerhe Lwa Kanyiginyi Nkingi is the son of Constantine Kamerhe Kanyginyi and Alphonsine Mwa Nkingi. Originally from the Shi community of the Walungu
Walungu
Walungu is a town and territory of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of CongoIt was the site of a plane crash on May 25, 2005 when a chartered Maniema Union Antonov An-28 aircraft, owned by Victoria Air, crashed into a mountain near Walungu, about 30 minutes after takeoff. All of the 22...
territory, he is married and father of 8 children.
He began his primary school in Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
and then in Goma
Goma
Goma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
. He then continued in the Kasai-Oriental
Kasai-Oriental
Kasai-Oriental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Kasai-Occidental to the west, Équateur to the northwest, Orientale to the northeast, Maniema to the east, and Katanga to the south. Kasai-Oriental is one of the richest diamond producing...
, in Gandajika
Gandajika
Gandajika is both a locality and a territory in Kabinda District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo....
, 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
Kasai-Occidental
Kasai-Occidental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Bandundu to the west, Équateur to the north, Kasai-Oriental to the east, and Katanga to the southeast. To the south it borders the country of Angola...
Province) and finally, after one year, to Mbuji-Mayi
Mbuji-Mayi
Mbuji-Mayi serves as the capital of Kasai-Oriental Province in the south-central Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the third largest city in the country, following the capital Kinshasa and second largest city Lubumbashi but ahead of Kisangani and Kananga. The city is the DRC's third-largest,...
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
University of Kinshasa
The University of Kinshasa , was one of three universities, along with University of Kisangani and University of Lubumbashi, created following the division of the National University of Zaire...
, where he received his degree in Economics in 1987 with distinction. There he stayed as teaching assistant.
Under Mobutu
Kamerhe started his political career in 1984 with the UDPS (Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès Social). During the democratic transition under Mobutu, 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 league.Between 1993 and 1995 he works 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, 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.
Under Kabila
Under Laurent Kabila, Kamerhe becomes the deputy chief of staff of Etienne-Richard Mbaya, the minister of reconstruction, then:- From 1997 to 1998 : Director of the Service National (a quasi-military service set up by Laurent Kabila)
- In 1998 : Finance Counselor at the Ministère de la Défense Nationale et Anciens Combattants, with the general Denis Kalume
and finally deputy commissioner in charge of 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 "le Pacificateur", the "Peacemaker". As Commissioner General of the Government responsible for monitoring the peace process in the Great Lakes region he is one of the principal negotiators of the 2002 peace deal.In 2003, he is appointed Minister of Press and Information in the transitional government.
Role in the 2006 General Election Campaign
In July 2004, he takes on the leadership of the PPRD and prepares Joseph KabilaJoseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
's election campaign, which he receives a lot of credit for. He is elected as parliamentarian in Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
with one of the highest scores in the country and on December 29, 2006 he is elected president of the National Assembly.
More Recent Developments
In 2009, as president of the National Assembly he questions the president Joseph KabilaJoseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré 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 releases a statement to Radio Okapi
Radio Okapi
Radio Okapi is a radio network that operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On an annual budget of US$4.5 million, a staff of 200 provide news and information to the entire urban population of the DRC.-History:...
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 delivers a speech resigning as President of the National Assembly.
On December 14, 2010 Kamerhe officially quits the PPRD announcing his candidacy to the Presidential Elections of 2011 and the creation of his new party, the UNC (Union pour la Nation Congolaise), which is expected to have its official inauguration in February 2011.