Since the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) concerning the provisional results of the elections for the post of provincial deputy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an alarming observation has emerged: the low rate of female representation. In many provinces, women are largely underrepresented, which provokes strong reactions.
In the Kasai-Central province, for example, out of the 31 seats for provincial deputies, only two women were elected. This situation was strongly criticized by the NGO “Femme hand in hand for integral development” (FMMDI), which denounces a lack of trust between women themselves. According to the NGO’s country director, Nathalie Kambala, community resistance towards women remains a major obstacle to their election.
However, it is important to note a slight improvement compared to previous elections. In 2018, there was only one woman elected to the national delegation and two women to the provincial delegation. This year, despite the low percentage of female representation, with only 6% of women elected, the number of seats won increased. However, it is worrying that most elected MPs will actually sit, leaving few places for women as substitutes.
At the national level, the situation is just as worrying. Of the 688 provincial deputies proclaimed by the CENI, only 66 are women. This imbalance between men and women within political bodies raises serious questions about representativeness and parity in Congolese political life.
It is imperative to emphasize the importance of greater participation of women in political life and decision-making. Women have an essential role to play in building a more egalitarian and inclusive society. It is therefore necessary to take concrete measures to encourage more women to run for office and to ensure equitable gender representation in governance bodies.
It is also essential to raise awareness in Congolese society of the importance of fair representation of women in politics, in order to break the stereotypes and prejudices that limit their participation. The diversity of voices and experiences contributes to better decision-making and a fairer representation of the interests of different layers of society.
It is therefore time to initiate real change in favor of inclusion and gender equality in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The emergence of a more diverse and balanced political class is essential for the promotion of a democratic and egalitarian society.