Appointments: Garry Sakata wants to bar ministers from choosing a chief of staff from their province

National deputy Garry Sakata is promoting a bill against tribalism and xenophobia that would bar officials from appointing a chief of staff from the same province, territory or sector, depending on their level of government. The bill would also let the prime minister or governor set by decree the proportion of cabinet members from the same tribe or province, after Sakata dropped an initial 30% cap. Violating that proportion would constitute a new offense, “abuse of tribal power,” punishable by six to 12 months in prison and a fine of 10 million Congolese francs. Sakata said the rules should logically apply to the presidency and parliament, and argued they would not prevent merit-based recruitment.