First Female DRC Mines Minister Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi Dismissed After Three Years
After three years at the helm of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mines ministry, Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi has been dismissed from her position. She was the first woman to hold this significant role since the DRC gained national and international sovereignty.
“With all my heart, I thank you, Excellency Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic, Head of State, for the trust placed in me over the last three years, especially for making me the first female Minister of Mines,” she wrote in a message on her X account.
Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi extended her best wishes to her successor, Kizito Pakomba Kapinga, as he assumes leadership of the mines ministry.
Kizito Pakomba Kapinga, replacing Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, is the new Minister of Mines in the DRC. He steps into this crucial role under the leadership of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.
Kizito Pakomba Kapinga is a former oil sector executive in the country. He has served as an advisor in the office of President Félix Tshisekedi, specializing in the sectoral economic unit.
Since 2017, he has led TWYK, a company specializing in the oil, energy, and construction sectors. With twenty years of experience in the oil and energy sector, including with TotalEnergies in the country, Kizito Pakomba brings substantial expertise to his new role.
As the new minister, he faces significant challenges, including issues related to the energy transition, artisanal mining, and the illegal exploitation of Congolese minerals by Rwanda. Additionally, he will need to address widespread corruption within the sector.
