Congo president sacks his cabinet

Congo President Joseph Kabila abruptly dismissed his Cabinet and suspended top financial chiefs nationwide, asserting control of the corrupt and inefficient government he inherited from his assassinated father.

Kabila, 29 and four months into the job, was expected in Germany today to embark on what he called an ‘‘explaining campaign’’ to his people and the world ‘‘in view of remedying the country’s troubles.’’

Behind him, a presidential decree left government services restricted solely to basic day-to-day services, said presidential spokesman Ngwej Katot.

The government said it was dispatching auditors to all provinces and public companies to see how they had been managed since January, when Kabila took power.

In the meantime, all heads of public treasuries and public companies were suspended.

Kabila until now largely has left intact the civilian leadership he inherited from his father, the late President Laurent Kabila.

Laurent Kabila was shot and killed by one of his own bodyguards in circumstances that remain mysterious.