On June 10, the community of bloggers and web actors in the DRC organized a half-day discussion on the inclusion of women in electoral lists. During this meeting, the speakers highlighted the country’s legal progress in terms of the political participation of Congolese women as well as the barriers that persist.
According to the figures presented by the Permanent Framework for Consultation of Congolese Women (CAFCO), in 2006, women were enrolled about as many times as men (12 million against 11 million). The figures increased slightly in 2011 (15,316,127 women against 15,307,252 men) and in 2018 (20 million female voters against 19 million). However, across three election cycles, only four women ran for president in 2006, one in 2018, and none in 2011.
As for the legislative elections, in 2006, 1,320 women candidates competed against 8,389 men, in 2011, 2,277 women ran against 16,587 men and in 2018, 1,795 women candidates opposed 13,565 men. . Despite this, the number of women elected as deputies and senators has remained low, with only 42 national deputies in 2018, compared to 430 in 2006. Regarding the deputies to the senate, there were 3 female senators out of 117, in 2011, compared to 90 senators. and in 2018, 19 senators against 90 senators.
Faced with the obstacles that persist, such as the lack of political ambition for young girls and women, the political will of party leaders and the weakness of support and coaching, the participants proposed the continuation of advocacy for effective inclusion. women in the electoral lists of political parties and groups. They also called for sensitization of young girls for increased engagement in politics, as well as sisterhood.
In short, this debate made it possible to highlight the issue of the inclusion of women in political life in the DRC and to find solutions for an optimal participation of Congolese women in the various decision-making spheres of the country.