List of prime ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Facts for Kids

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, often called the DRC, is a large country in Central Africa. Since it became independent in 1960, it has had a special leader called the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is like the head of the government, working with the President to run the country.

Sometimes, the name for this job has changed. For example, in 1960-1961, it was called the Chairman of the College of Commissioners-General, and from 1977-1990, it was known as the First State Commissioner.

The current Prime Minister is Judith Suminwa. She started her job on June 12, 2024. She is also very important because she is the first woman to hold this position in the Democratic Republic of the Congo!

Prime Ministers of the DRC

The Prime Minister's job is to lead the government, manage the country's daily affairs, and make sure laws are followed. They work closely with the President, who is the head of the country.

This list shows the people who have served as Prime Minister since the DRC gained its independence. You'll see their names, when they were in office, and which political party they belonged to.

No.	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Election	Time in office			Political party
No.	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Election	Started	Ended	How long	Political party
Republic of the Congo (1960–1971)
1	Patrice Lumumba	Patrice Lumumba (1925–1961)	1960	24 June 1960	5 September 1960	73 days	MNC
2	Joseph Iléo	Joseph Iléo (1921–1994)	—	5 September 1960	20 September 1960	15 days	MNC
3	Albert Ndele	Albert Ndele (1930–2023)	—	20 September 1960	3 October 1960	13 days	Independent
4	Justin Bomboko	Justin Bomboko (1928–2014)	—	3 October 1960	9 February 1961	129 days	Independent
—	Antoine Gizenga	Antoine Gizenga (1925–2019) (disputed)	—	13 December 1960	5 August 1961	235 days	PSA
(2)	Joseph Iléo	Joseph Iléo (1921–1994)	—	9 February 1961	2 August 1961	174 days	MNC
5	Cyrille Adoula	Cyrille Adoula (1921–1978)	—	2 August 1961	30 June 1964	2 years, 333 days	MNC
6	Moïse Tshombe	Moïse Tshombe (1919–1969)	—	10 July 1964	13 October 1965	1 year, 95 days	CONACO
7	Évariste Kimba	Évariste Kimba (1926–1966)	1965	13 October 1965	25 November 1965	43 days	CONAKAT
8	Léonard Mulamba	Léonard Mulamba (1928–1986)	—	25 November 1965	26 October 1966	335 days	Military
The Prime Minister job was stopped for a while (26 October 1966 – 27 October 1971)
Republic of Zaire (1971–1997)
The Prime Minister job was stopped again (27 October 1971 – 6 July 1977)
9	Mpinga Kasenda	Mpinga Kasenda (1937–1994)	1977	6 July 1977	6 March 1979	1 year, 243 days	MPR
10	André Bo-Boliko Lokonga	Bo-Boliko Lokonga (1934–2018)	—	6 March 1979	27 August 1980	1 year, 174 days	MPR
11	Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond	Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond (1938–2003)	—	27 August 1980	18 April 1981	234 days	MPR
12	N'Singa Udjuu	N'Singa Udjuu (1934–2021)	1982	23 April 1981	5 November 1982	1 year, 196 days	MPR
13	Léon Kengo wa Dondo	Léon Kengo wa Dondo (born 1935)	—	5 November 1982	31 October 1986	3 years, 360 days	MPR
Job was empty (31 October 1986 – 22 January 1987)
14	Mabi Mulumba	Mabi Mulumba (born 1941)	1987	22 January 1987	7 March 1988	1 year, 45 days	MPR
15	Sambwa Pida Nbagui	Sambwa Pida Nbagui (1940–1998)	—	7 March 1988	26 November 1988	264 days	MPR
(13)	Léon Kengo wa Dondo	Léon Kengo wa Dondo (born 1935)	—	26 November 1988	4 May 1990	1 year, 159 days	MPR
16	Lunda Bululu	Lunda Bululu (born 1942)	—	4 May 1990	1 April 1991	332 days	MPR
17	Mulumba Lukoji	Mulumba Lukoji (1943–1997)	—	1 April 1991	29 September 1991	181 days	MPR
18	Étienne Tshisekedi	Étienne Tshisekedi (1932–2017)	—	29 September 1991	1 November 1991	33 days	UDPS
19	Bernardin Mungul Diaka	Bernardin Mungul Diaka (1933–1999)	—	1 November 1991	25 November 1991	24 days	DAR
(11)	Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond	Jean Nguza Karl-i-Bond (1938–2003)	—	25 November 1991	15 August 1992	264 days	UFIR
(18)	Étienne Tshisekedi	Étienne Tshisekedi (1932–2017)	—	15 August 1992	18 March 1993	215 days	UDPS
20	Faustin Birindwa	Faustin Birindwa (1943–1999)	—	18 March 1993	14 January 1994	302 days	UDPS
(13)	Léon Kengo wa Dondo	Léon Kengo wa Dondo (born 1935)	—	6 July 1994	2 April 1997	2 years, 270 days	UID
(18)	Étienne Tshisekedi	Étienne Tshisekedi (1932–2017)	—	2 April 1997	9 April 1997	7 days	UDPS
21	Likulia Bolongo	Likulia Bolongo (born 1939)	—	9 April 1997	16 May 1997	37 days	Military
Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997–present)
Job was stopped again (16 May 1997 – 30 December 2006)
22	Antoine Gizenga	Antoine Gizenga (1925–2019)	2006	30 December 2006	10 October 2008	1 year, 285 days	PALU
23	Adolphe Muzito	Adolphe Muzito (born 1957)	2011	10 October 2008	6 March 2012	3 years, 148 days	PALU
—	Louis Alphonse Koyagialo	Louis Alphonse Koyagialo (1947–2014) Acting	—	6 March 2012	18 April 2012	43 days	PALU
24	Matata Ponyo Mapon	Matata Ponyo Mapon (born 1964)	—	18 April 2012	17 November 2016	4 years, 213 days	PPRD
25	Samy Badibanga	Samy Badibanga (born 1962)	—	17 November 2016	18 May 2017	182 days	UDPS
26	Bruno Tshibala	Bruno Tshibala (born 1956)	—	18 May 2017	7 September 2019	2 years, 112 days	UDPS
26	Bruno Tshibala	Bruno Tshibala (born 1956)	2018	18 May 2017	7 September 2019	2 years, 112 days	UDPS
27	Sylvestre Ilunga	Sylvestre Ilunga (born 1947)	—	7 September 2019	27 April 2021	1 year, 232 days	PPRD
28	Sama Lukonde	Sama Lukonde (born 1977)	—	27 April 2021	12 June 2024	3 years, 46 days	ACO
29	Judith Suminwa	Judith Suminwa (born 1967)	2023	12 June 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 17 days	UDPS