By Reuters Staff
(Adds quote, context)
BRAZZAVILLE, June 21 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed in principle to reschedule Congo Republic’s debt, Congolese Finance Minister Rigobert Roger Andely said on Monday, adding that the move would help unlock stalled International Monetary Fund lending.
The IMF approved a $449 million, three-year lending programme in 2019 on the condition that the Central African oil producer ensured the long-term sustainability of its debt.
Only $45 million has been disbursed to date, however, as the government has struggled to secure a restructuring of its debt to oil traders.
“The debt is an obstacle to the conclusion and the continuation of relations with the IMF within the framework of the extended facility which was concluded in July 2019. That’s the point that sometimes hurts our country,” said Andely.
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Congo president names son in newly created ministry role
By AFP
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The Republic of Congo s President Denis Sassou Nguesso has chosen a new government that includes his son as well as an opposition leader, according to a statement read on public television.
The previous government resigned earlier this month in a procedural move after Sassou Nguesso, one of the world s longest-serving leaders, easily won a fifth term in a March election when his main opponent died of Covid-19 on polling day.
The new government has 36 members including four ministers and eight women, the official statement said on Saturday night.
Congo president names son to head newly created ministry in new govt
Sunday May 16 2021
Summary
The president s son Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso will head up the newly-created ministry of international cooperation and public-private partnerships.
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The Republic of Congo s President Denis Sassou Nguesso has chosen a new government that includes his son as well as an opposition leader, according to a statement read on public television.
The previous government resigned earlier this month in a procedural move after Sassou Nguesso, one of the world s longest-serving leaders, easily won a fifth term in a March election when his main opponent died of Covid-19 on polling day.
Sassou Nguesso s son is one of 11 newcomers to the administration.
Philosophy professor Honore Sayi, who had presided over Congo s largest opposition group the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy, will be energy minister.
Rigobert Roger Andely, a former banker from the same northern Cuvette region as the president, is once again taking the role of finance minister, a job he held from 2002 to 2005.
Seven people were sacked, including Henri Djombo who had served as a minister since 1997 and Yvonne Adelaide Mougany who had been in the government since 2002.
Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso, who was appointed on Wednesday after his predecessor submitted his government s resignation on May 6, was told to put the new team to work without delay .