Vital Kamerhe has resigned from his role as President of the National Assembly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, stepping aside just before a scheduled vote on a petition challenging his leadership.
The announcement was delivered Monday evening by the Assembly’s first vice president, followed by Kamerhe’s own remarks to lawmakers. He described his resignation as a deliberate act of sacrifice, aimed at redirecting national attention toward what he called “the real challenges” unity, sovereignty, and economic development.
The petition seeking Kamerhe’s removal centered on internal concerns about the Assembly’s operations. While opposition leaders labeled the effort a political maneuver, Kamerhe’s supporters questioned the petition’s legitimacy.
President Félix Tshisekedi, speaking from New York, distanced himself from the controversy, reaffirming Kamerhe as “a brother and ally.”
Kamerhe’s resignation comes after a turbulent political journey. He was convicted of embezzlement in 2020, though the verdict was later overturned. His return to public life in 2024 reignited both support and scrutiny.
