Three DR Congo ministers who are members of presidential candidate Moise Katumbi’s party resigned Wednesday after the incumbent leader asked them whom they would support in coming elections.
Katumbi, a wealthy 57 year-old businessman who once governed the mineral-rich Katanga region, announced earlier this month that he would run in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election scheduled for late 2023.
President Felix Tshisekedi had summoned five ministers who are members of Katumbi’s Ensemble pour la Republique (Together for the Republic) party to “know their position” on Wednesday, his office said.
The minister of planning, the minister of transport and the vice-minister of health tendered their resignations later, the presidency said.
Tshisekedi, who came to power in January 2019, has already announced that he intends to run for a second term next year.
