Page "Politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo" Paragraph 29

The Inter-Congolese dialogue, that set-up the transitional institutions, created a bicameral parliament, with a National Assembly and Senate, made up of appointed representatives of the parties to the dialogue.

These parties included the preceding government, the rebel groups that were fighting against the government, with heavy Rwandan and Ugandan support, the internal opposition parties, and the Civil Society.

At the beginning of the transition, and up until recently, the National Assembly is headed by the MLC with Speaker Hon.

Olivier Kamitatu, while the Senate is headed by a representative of the Civil Society, namely the head of the Church of Christ in Congo, Mgr.

Pierre Marini Bodho.

Hon.

Kamitatu has since left both the MLC and the Parliament to create his own party, and ally with current President Joseph Kabila.

Since then, the position of Speaker is held by Hon.

Thomas Luhaka, of the MLC.