The Constitution of the Third Republic grants the prime minister a significant amount of power.

The post is currently occupied by Judith Suminwa who succeeded Sama Lukonde on 12 June 2024.

[citation needed] Aside from the Lumumba Government, the Congo (DRC) has known several powerful figures in the position, such as Moise Tshombe, who had previously led a secession of his native Katanga province, and Étienne Tshisekedi, the long-time opponent of the Mobutu regime, who was brought to this position three times under popular pressure.

Gizenga, one of the few active and living politicians to hail from the DRC's colonial past, was Lumumba's deputy prime minister in 1960, and served as prime minister of a rival national government in rebellion in February 1961.

The prime minister is appointed by the president, hailing from the party or political group that has the majority in the National Assembly.