Government and power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Who leads the Democratic Republic of the Congo, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary presidential republic with strong provinces ('regionalised' state).

Who leads the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

• Head of state: Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo (Président de la République démocratique du Congo)
• Head of government: Judith Suminwa Tuluka (Premier Ministre, Cheffe du Gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo)
• Foreign minister: Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner (Ministre des Affaires étrangères, Coopération internationale et Francophonie de la République démocratique du Congo)

Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Governance scores

The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.

Voice and accountability

Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.

Political stability and absence of violence

Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.

Government effectiveness

Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.

Regulatory quality

Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.

Rule of law

Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.

Control of corruption

Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.

Official bodies that hold power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Government

• Presidency of the Republic
  Presidential ordinances, speeches and official communiqués.
• Prime Minister's Office
  Council of Ministers reports, government decisions and official news.

Parliament

• National Assembly
  Bills, laws adopted, parliamentary questions and the list of deputies.
• Senate
  Senate session work, laws examined and the list of senators.

Elections

• Independent National Electoral Commission
  Electoral calendars, voter registers and election results.

Public audit

• Court of Auditors
  Audit reports on public finances and rulings on public accounts.

Public contracts

• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority
  Procurement regulation, tender notices, audits and decisions on procurement disputes in the DRC.

Government below the national level

• Provinces (26, including the city-province of Kinshasa): Provincial assembly directly elected (last in December 2023), with some seats for co-opted customary chiefs; the assembly elects the governor
• Territories (rural) and cities: Territory administrators appointed by the state; city mayors appointed
• Communes, sectors (secteurs) and chiefdoms (chefferies): Councils provided for by the 2008 organic law, but largely not yet elected; sector chiefs are appointed in practice; chiefdoms are headed by a customary chief designated by custom
• Groupements and villages: Groupement and village chiefs designated by custom and recognised by the state

How local power works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Places in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• All 26 city-provinces
• Official statistics for the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sources

• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.