Marie Josée IFOKU, president of the Alliance of Elites for a New Congo (AENC), has filed her candidacy for the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which will be held on December 20, 2023. This politician thus marks the history by becoming the first female candidate to enter the race for the country’s highest office.
When submitting her candidacy to the Application Reception and Processing Office (BRTC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Marie Josée IFOKU was received by the president of the CENI, Denis KADIMA KAZADI. During their meeting, they discussed the electoral process and the importance of organizing transparent and legitimate elections to end the crisis of legitimacy that marked previous electoral cycles.
Marie Josée IFOKU took advantage of this opportunity to present her political vision based on the concept of “kombolization”. This term, derived from the word “kombo” which means broom in Lingala, represents the idea of cleaning up the anti-values and bad practices that have prevailed in the governance of the country. According to her, the DRC needs a break with the system of predation which has been maintained by the leaders since independence. She thus offers her vision of kombolization, developed in five points, for a renaissance of the DRC.
This candidacy also marks a desire to support reforms within the CENI. Marie Josée IFOKU expressed her confidence in President Denis KADIMA KAZADI and offered him her support to ensure fair and transparent elections. His commitment to fighting the legitimacy crisis and to a renovated CENI demonstrates his determination to work for positive change in the country’s governance.
With this candidacy, Marie Josée IFOKU hopes that the Congolese people will choose a vision and not a person because of their gender. She wishes to bring a real break with the system of predation and give the Congolese people the opportunity to lead their country towards a better future.
The candidacy of Marie Josée IFOKU for the presidential election in the DRC marks an important step towards the political participation of women in the country. His commitment and vision represent a glimmer of hope for more just and transparent governance. It remains to be seen what the reaction of voters will be to this historic candidacy and what will be the outcome of this crucial presidential election for the future of the DRC.