DRC's Kabila vows to appoint new prime minister within 48 hours

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila has announced Wednesday that he will appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours as part of the political agreement.

In an addressing to the lower and upper houses of parliament in the capital Kinshasa, he called on the opposition coalition to nominate candidates for the appointment, AFP reports.

This decision comes a day after the president met with some opposition leaders and senate president Leon Kengo Wa Dondo at the presidential palace.

The opposition coalition created by late opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi and currently led by his son Félix Tshisekedi had called for a general strike in the country, which is ongoing, to protest against what they consider as an attempt to block the December 31 peace agreement.

The coalition boycotted peace talks last year which resulted in the appointment of the current prime minister Samy Badibanga in November per the power-sharing deal signed in October between the government and some opposition parties.

The coalition opposed the agreement which they described as non-inclusive and promised to protest till Kabila steps down.

Catholic bishops who have been mediating the talks announced last week that they would no longer continue the mediation due to unwillingness to seek compromise.

Kabila promised that the dialogue will continue.

The protests might come to an end if the opposition coalition agrees to send its nominees for appointment as prime minister until elections are held this year per the peace agreement.