Women are taking the political stage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the candidacy of Marie-Josée Ifoku for the 2023 presidential election. As president of the Alliance of Elites for a New Congo (AENC), she presents herself as a disruptive candidate, aiming to put an end to the predation that has characterized the country’s governance since its independence.
For Marie-Josée Ifoku, “kombolization” represents the desire to sweep away anti-values and bring the DRC back towards rebirth. She denounces the predation of which the Congolese people have been victims and aspires to a profound break with this system.
Candidate Ifoku places her confidence in the ongoing electoral process and hopes that the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) will organize truly transparent and legitimate elections. She even met the president of the CENI to symbolically offer him a broom, to mark the importance of cleaning the institution and organizing real elections.
This application from Marie-Josée Ifoku is added to the 13 files already submitted to the Office for Receiving and Processing Applications (BRTC). She is thus the first woman to run for president, marking an important step towards the inclusion of women in Congolese political life.
This new candidacy also illustrates the evolution of the political landscape in the DRC, with increasing participation of women and a desire to break with past practices. The presence of female candidates offers a different and enriching perspective for Congolese democracy, paving the way for better representation and new ideas.
Marie-Josée Ifoku’s candidacy for the 2023 presidential election highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in political life. It could be a sign of a promising future for the DRC, where women play a key role in building a more just and equitable country.
It now remains to await the results of the elections and to see if Marie-Josée Ifoku will succeed in establishing herself as the first president of the DRC. Regardless, his candidacy constitutes an important step towards a more inclusive society and represents a new lease of life for Congolese politics.