Women Transform DR Congo’s Future: 32% of Government Now Female

A historic breakthrough

For the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s history, women now hold almost 32 % of government positions. The cabinet reshuffle of 7 August 2025 produced a slimmed down team of 53 members in which 17 women serve alongside Prime Minister Judith Suminwa In comparison, the May 2024 government had 18 women out of 55 members (32.7 %) while the Sacred Union government of 2021 had only 27 % women This steady climb from 17 % in 2019 to one third today signals a cultural shift: women are no longer token appointments; they are central to policymaking.

Globally, the DRC is outpacing many nations. UN Women’s Facts and Figures report shows that women represent only 22.9 % of cabinet ministers worldwide, and just 18 countries have a woman head of state, while 20 have a woman head of government. Women account for 27.2 % of parliamentarians. The DRC’s 32 % female cabinet therefore sits above the global average and close to parity targets set by the African Union.

The August 2025 reshuffle: a government led by women

President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, re-elected in December 2023, chose to retain Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the country’s first woman premier, and to deepen gender inclusion across key ministries. Suminwa, an economist and former planning minister, acknowledged the enormity of her task during her inaugural press conference: “I know the task is big and the challenge immense. But together, with the head of state, support from the government and all institutions, and that of the Congolese population, we will make it. In a national address, she also pledged to “work for peace and the development of the country”.

The new cabinet breaks with past gendered stereotypes. Women now head portfolios well beyond traditional social sectors. Thérèse Wagner leads Foreign Affairs, confronting regional security challenges and asserting Congo’s sovereignty; at the UN Security Council she denounced Rwanda’s incursion into eastern Congo as a “declaration of war” and an “open violation of national sovereignty” Ève Bazaiba continues at Social Affairs, while Acacia Bandubola oversees Hydrocarbons, a sector central to economic diversification.

The state minister for National Education and New Citizenship, Raïssa Malu, has become an articulate advocate for youth. In an interview, she stressed that “Education is a fundamental right and an essential means of protecting vulnerable children… Investing in education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo means investing in stability, sustainable development, and peace. She pledged to consolidate free primary education launched under Tshisekedi and to provide scholarships and digital learning to reach rural children.

Malu also frames girls’ education as a question of social justice, citing programmes that promote STEM, cultural activities, and school clubs

Other women occupy influential posts: Marie Nyange Ngambo at Environment, Marie Thérèse Sombo at Higher Education, Yolande Elebe at Culture, Micheline Ombaye at Gender & Family, Grâce Kutino at Youth, Oneige Nsele at Land Affairs, and Arlette Bahati as minister delegate for the New Economy. Their mandates range from climate policy and oil revenues to land reform, culture, and youth empowerment. Culture minister Yolande Elebe champions cultural sovereignty; speaking at the World Music and Tourism Festival she called rumba “a fluid, pure and universal recognition of the grandeur of Congolese heritage” and described culture as “a formidable, peaceful weapon” for national identity, This poetic defense of culture underscores how women leaders are shaping not only social policy but national narratives.

Judith Suminwa: the face of inclusive leadership

Judith Suminwa Tuluka’s journey embodies Congo’s transformation. Before becoming prime minister, she served as planning minister and attended the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program, where she refined a strategy to stimulate economic growth through human development and better resource allocation, Her technocratic credentials help her implement Tshisekedi’s six pillar program, national economy, security, spatial planning, social well being, responsible ecosystems and human development, outlined during her first hundred days, Suminwa frequently links peace to opportunity: during a visit to conflict torn eastern Congo she declared, “I think of all these people and my heart beats for them” pledging to translate promises into concrete actions.

Suminwa is also unafraid to speak on the international stage. At the UN Human Rights Council in February 2025, she lamented that some 7,000 people had died since January and highlighted that about 450,000 people were left without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed, demonstrating her willingness to confront the humanitarian crisis head-on on reuters.com. Such candor, combined with pragmatic policy making, positions her as both a symbol of change and a catalyst for reform.

Tshisekedi’s reformist vision

President Tshisekedi has deliberately fostered this surge of women leaders. His administration enacted a 2022 electoral law that exempts parties from deposit fees if at least 50 % of their candidate lists are women, incentivising gender parity in electoral competition. In a speech to the UN General Assembly in 2024, Tshisekedi argued that women’s concerns must be integrated into major decisions.

He pledged to change mentalities, involve men in advancing women’s success, and noted that the Congolese constitution enshrines parity. He highlighted the creation of a national strategy against gender based violence and celebrated the appointment of a woman as prime minister and increased female presence in government, the judiciary, and the Central Bank

Beyond gender equality, Tshisekedi’s reforms include free primary education, digital connectivity projects, anti-corruption efforts, and investment in basic infrastructure. Suminwa’s government has introduced ambitious investment programs worth nearly US$93 billion over five years and proposed fiscal reforms to boost purchasing power. These socioeconomic policies, combined with gender inclusion, reflect a holistic approach to development.

Global benchmarks: DR Congo punches above its weight

In 2025, the world will still struggle with gender parity. UN Women’s data show that 22.9 % of cabinet ministers are women worldwide and that the most common portfolios entrusted to women are social protection and culture. Only 18 countries have a woman head of state, and 20 have a woman head of government, and women hold 27.2 % of parliamentary seats. Against this backdrop, the DRC’s 32 % female cabinet and first female prime minister stand out, placing the country ahead of many more developed democracies.

What remains to be done

Despite the progress, challenges persist. None of the current deputy prime minister positions nor the defense, interior, finance, or economy portfolios are held by women. Representation remains uneven at the provincial level and within parastatal agencies. Women leaders themselves acknowledge that parity is a process. As Raïssa Malu notes, “Free primary education… is an important achievement that needs to be consolidated”, but obstacles such as indirect costs and cultural barriers still hinder girls’ education. She advocates scholarships, digital learning, and community awareness to keep girls in school. Similarly, Suminwa and Wagner face daunting security crises that test their capacity and underline the need for systemic reforms in security and justice.

A hopeful, Pan African conclusion

From 17 % female representation in 2019 to almost one-third today, the Democratic Republic of Congo is rewriting its political narrative. A generation of competent, articulate, and courageous women now sit at the cabinet table. They manage foreign affairs, energy, education, culture, environment, and youth; they speak frankly about conflict and humanitarian crises; they champion culture as a weapon of peace.

President Tshisekedi’s reformist agenda, and his own words at the UN that women’s concerns must be central, have created space for this transformation. But the momentum also springs from the women themselves: Judith Suminwa’s relentless pragmatism, Thérèse Wagner’s diplomatic resolve, Raïssa Malu’s vision for an educated youth, and Yolande Elebe’s cultural pride.

For young Congolese women and those in the diaspora, this moment is inspiring. It signals that leadership is no longer defined by gender but by merit and vision. It affirms that the DRC can be a Pan African leader in inclusive governance, proving that bold reforms and female leadership can coexist with stability, growth, and national pride. The path to parity is not over, but the future of Congo is already being shaped by the women who govern it.

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