President Joseph Kabila named former finance minister Matata Ponyo as the new prime minister on Wednesday. Known as a technocrat, Mr. Ponyo oversaw a 7 percent economic growth in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2010 and a $12.3 billion debt cancellation. The World Bank said last week it expects the same growth rate in DR Congo for the next two years.

President Joseph Kabila’s party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and its allies will hold a majority of seats in the new parliament, according to the results of the Nov. 28 parliamentary elections published by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday.

One person was reported killed on Tuesday in Kinshasa after police fired live ammunition to disperse a protest by members of UDPS. The unrest came a day after Etienne Tshisekedi, the leader of the UDPS, registered as a presidential candidate for the November election.

The People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy nominated President Joseph Kabila as its candidate for the November presidential election on Sunday, the last day of its second convention – which was being held at Stade des Martyrs since Thursday.

There were no surprises at the Palais du Peuple on Saturday morning as elections results revealed that Evariste Boshab, from President Joseph Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD), had come ahead as the new speaker of the lower house of Parliament in polls held on Friday to replace its former officers.