Fatshimetrie, October 31, 2024. The political landscape of the Equateur province, located in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is at the heart of the concerns of the Synergy of Women Leaders. Meeting in Mbandaka, these influential women expressed strong discontent regarding the lack of female representation in the new provincial government.
Ms. Odile Bofua Lotafe, President of the Synergy, vigorously underlined the dismay of seeing this absence, in contradiction with previous advocacy and lobbying efforts in favor of equitable representation of women in decision-making bodies. This total absence of women in the current provincial government contrasts sharply with the previous situation, where only one female minister out of ten positions was present, thus representing 10% of the workforce. This reality flagrantly contradicts Article 14 of the Congolese Constitution, which guarantees the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
The synergy of women leaders of Equateur does not intend to remain passive in the face of this situation. It plans to draft a memo in order to express its discontent to the provincial governor. In addition, a call for solidarity and action is launched towards the head of state, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, known for his commitment to parity. The women leaders affirm their determination not to relax their efforts until female representation is respected in accordance with the law.
This cry of alarm resonates as a call to mobilization in favor of gender equality and the recognition of women’s rights. The fight for a more inclusive and equitable society continues, because as Ms. Odile Bofua Lotafe pointed out, it is the fight that liberates. In a country like the DRC, marked by issues of diversity and representation, the presence of women in positions of responsibility is not only a moral imperative, but also a guarantee of social progress and political stability. In this sense, the synergy of women leaders in Ecuador makes its voice heard with determination and hope, in the hope of initiating a concrete and lasting change.