The journey of Marie Josée IFOKU: First female candidate for the presidential election in the DRC
Marie Josée IFOKU, president of the Alliance of Elites for a New Congo (AENC), has officially filed her candidacy for the presidential election which will be held on December 20, 2023. This is the second time that she is running for office. race for the supreme office, making her the first woman to run for this position in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the candidacy submission procedure with the Candidature Reception and Processing Office (BRTC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Marie Josée IFOKU underlined her political vision based on the idea of ”kombolization”. According to her, this concept of “kombolization” represents a break with the system of predation which has prevailed in the DRC since independence.
“Kombolization aims to clean up the anti-values and bad practices that persist in our society. We must break with this system of predation which has made the Congolese people prey,” she explains during her interview with the President. of the CENI, Denis KADIMA KAZADI.
Marie Josée IFOKU, aware of the legitimacy issues linked to past elections, expressed her confidence in the CENI and its president by symbolically offering her support for a possible reform of the organization. She is convinced that this time, the elections will take place in a transparent and democratic manner.
The candidacy of Marie Josée IFOKU marks a significant step forward for the political representation of women in the DRC. As the first woman to run for president, she paves the way for greater inclusion of women in the country’s political life.
The presidential race in 2023 will undoubtedly be a crucial moment for the DRC. The candidates, including Marie Josée IFOKU, will have the opportunity to present their visions and projects for the future of the country. Let us hope that this election will mark a turning point in the history of the DRC by promoting democracy, transparency and sustainable development.