The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, was recently met in Kinshasa by Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the President of the African Union Commission. During their meeting, the two personalities examined the numerous achievements of the First Lady in favor of the DRC, with particular emphasis on the actions carried out in the field of health, in particular the care of patients suffering from sickle cell anemia.
The fight against violence against women was also discussed, highlighting the initiative of the National Fund for the Reconstruction of Victims of Violence (Fonarev) launched by the First Lady. This initiative was highly appreciated by Bineta Diop, who even expressed the wish to see this model be reproduced in other African countries.
Bineta Diop also welcomed the commitment of Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi as president of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OPDAD), highlighting the work and initiatives carried out by African First Ladies. She even suggested that these actions be more highlighted to public opinion in order to allow First Ladies to work more effectively within the African Union.
In addition, Bineta Diop advocated for the involvement of women in negotiation processes to ensure lasting peace. She underlined the importance of greater participation of Congolese women in decision-making and encouraged Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi to take initiatives in collaboration with political parties and the President of the Republic in order to promote better representation of women in this domain.
The African Union delegation had initially planned to visit Goma as part of its mission to promote women’s rights, but no information was provided in this regard.
This meeting between Bineta Diop and Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi demonstrates the importance given by the African Union to the promotion of women’s rights and their active participation in decision-making processes. The recognition of the achievements of the First Lady of the DRC and her commitment to worthy causes constitutes an important step towards the empowerment of women in Africa and the strengthening of their role in the political and social spheres.