International Women’s Day Special: DRC Two Awesome Women.

They have awed the world!  This day, March 8, 2025, Her Excellencies the Prime Minister and VPM (Vice Prime Minister) – the Minister of Foreign Affairs are being honoured.  The UN Charter’s  adoption in 1945 was a prelude that made the very charter the first international instrument towards  ascertaining the principle of equality between women and men. The UN has created a historical and internationally recognized legacy of strategies, standards, programs and objectives intended to improve the condition of women in the world. Since Mr Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo won elections and became President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new environment for women empowerment was created; it was conducive to the consideration women deserve and their rights affirmation. Women are represented in all spectra of society, and do fulfil roles that were previously reserved for men. Today’s results are the emanation of efforts undertaken for ages but deliberately truncated. At the dawn of the new constitution in 2006, provisions on gender parity were clearly established without their applicability being implemented by the state authorities. In the past, deep socio-economic disparities meant that women were mostly relegated to the margins of the society and had no real capacity for action.

By changing the state of things, DRC has enhanced its female approach with two special women to manage its destiny. As the world celebrate Women’s Day on March 8, 2025 , the whole country seizes this opportunity to intelligently praise special virtues displayed by a female duo: Her Excellencies, Prime Minister, Judith Suminwa Tuluka and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, Thérèse Wagner Kayikwamba. Yesterday, they were still unknown quantities, today they are world renown. These politicians have proved the opposite in the performance of their duties. Thérèse Wagner came about to seconding efforts made into the architecture already built by the President of the Republic internationally. The diplomatic battle bore fruit in view of many sanctions imposed on the Rwandan invader by the international community. Rwandan troops as RDF with their M23/AFC auxiliaries, had attacked Goma on January 27, 2025 shooting and killing the population randomly. The provisional report has indicated that more than 12,000 civilians have been killed in Goma. A few days later, Bukavu residents endured the same fate. The VPM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Wagner had lit fires on podiums as high as the United Nations, the European Union, the European Parliament, the German Parliament, etc. Everywhere, the flames that sprang therefrom were all in the colours of DRC flag; the VPM (Vice-Prime Minister) brushed off approximate accusations brought about by Rwandan delegations each time they stepped up to the plate.

March 8 was made official in 1977 by the United Nations, it symbolizes the day for women’s rights and covers several events with the aim of celebrating advances made in women’s rights. It is a day focused on action, awareness and mobilization dedicated to the fight for women’s rights, equality and justice. In Democratic Republic of Congo, this day is not limited to women wearing African fabrics -loincloths; they should gather to reflect, exchange ideas and mobilize for equality between women and men. Monitoring actions taken and their implementation is another focus around which events of the worldwide celebrated day shall revolve. Also, March 8 shall serve as an opportunity to highlight initiatives that place women at the heart of creation as well as their participation in social, political and economic life. On this point, DRC is better off and richly served. The quality of women who work in many life sectors is beyond expectations, though further work is needed still.

As usual, the UN sets the topic for March 8^th of each year. This year’s topic: “For all women and girls: rights, equality and empowerment”, was chosen to give rise to scattered debates and actions. It is important to note that in this year 2025, the UN celebrates 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration which was adopted in September 1995. Its declaration and program of action are considered as an international declaration of women’s rights. Women’s rights are defined as human rights.

Her Excellency Madam the Prime Minister, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, is firmly seated on the throne of the DRC Prime Minister’s office. She dictates government policy and oversees her cabinet’s ministries profitability in terms of achievements as contained in the program of action. She keeps a close eye on it, letting nothing escape her voluntarily or involuntarily. Her performance on February 24, 2025 at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Switzerland, moved the lines in the search for sanctions to be considered against Rwanda as well as investigations to be undertaken in relation to massacres perpetrated in Goma and Bukavu. Without hesitation but with determination, she had called on decision-makers to do their best to achieve this in order to hold Rwanda, whose troops are disrespectful of human life in Greater Kivu, accountable. At the same time, the VPM and Madam the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba, raised her voice on other platforms. All, driven by the desire to restore freedom for Congolese people in the eastern part, as clear as the dawn.  They wonderfully harmonized the diplomatic symphony in pure DRC style. This diplomatic stylization has been hatched since 2018 to prevail DRC interests at the opportune moment. For various reasons, the military front did not hold up against the lightning attacks launched by RDF and its M23/AFC auxiliaries.

Alexander Graham Bell said: “When one door closes, another opens…” Fortunately, in DRC, these brave female authorities, Prime Minister Judith and VPM Thérèse did not waste time looking at the closed door so as not to see the one that had opened. They struck fiercely! During the African Union meeting of the Peace and Security Council held from February 14 to 16, 2025 in Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister had so exposed Rwanda’s lies, blunders of its troops and the barbarity of Kagame’s military authorities that he became agitated, angry and slipped out of the room. At home, the Prime Minister has dictated new guidelines by establishing a special bonus, apart from pay, to be given to soldiers fighting Rwanda RDF troops and M23/AFC. This is how DRC is writing new chapters in its history, and it is brilliantly supported by government policies and laws. DRC authorities should commit to putting in place policies and laws to further empower women, enable them to improve their lives, while closing the gender gap. This will allow DRC to display one of the highest female literacy rates, like South Africa, whose Gender Parity Index (GPI) is among the highest in the world and ranks better than its BRICS counterparts, better than the average of countries within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In addition, women shall consider popularizing their own actions through different communication channels. The contribution of men will play a major role in supporting their actions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Also, an appeal to women journalists is of particular interest; they must be as involved as politicians, by speaking out for reducing the gap between men and women. The coverage by women in the media of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases and the perception of rape as a weapon of war will strengthen the application of preventive measures to ensure that such cases do not occur or their occurrence reduced.

On this day March 8, it is essential to raise awareness among societal actors to ensure full participation of women in the economy in order to achieve equity, prosperity and shared and inclusive growth. To demonstrate a commitment to gender equality, the government must be appealed to expand women’s access to economic opportunities by reserving a certain percentage of public procurement for women-owned businesses. Only in so doing, women will develop varied leadership experiences to provide the nation with other leaders of the calibre of Her Excellencies Prime Minister and VPM – Minister of Foreign Affairs. Intense traveling made by these state authorities have borne fruit: US sanctions against Rwanda and M23 military authorities, the suspension of the Agoa agreements – African Growth and Opportunity Act, the cancellation of all development aid by Germany and the suspension of aid to Rwanda by Canada. The United Kingdom, Rwanda’s main donor, which contributes more than 1 billion pounds to its national budget, has suspended this valuable contribution. Belgium has not remained silent either with a host of related measures. The cherry on the cake came from Her Excellency Madam the VPM, Minister of Foreign Affairs. She stood firm until she succeeded in convincing all 15 members of the United Nations Security Council to vote unanimously for a resolution condemning Rwanda, urging Rwanda to withdraw their puppets. Tireless work achieved by the VPM has caused damage to Rwanda; Kagame has demanded the resignation of his Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Ernest Rwamucyo. The latter was soundly defeated by AN authoritarian WOMAN from DRC. The Kayikwamba effects will reverberate in Kigali for generations.

Democratic Republic of Congo should be proud of its worthy ladies who have achieved a lot in a short time, but the country shall continue to face the scourge of violence against women and children, despite many advances and interventions. Not a day goes by without newspaper headlines echoing it or the population talking about another tragic case of women who have suffered horrific abuse from trusted partners, or children who have been raped by adults. The fight against feminized poverty will improve women’s health and increase disgust for the sex worker sector. The government should be more punitive to annihilate inclinations that tend to slow down the emergence of other Judith Siminwa Tuluka and Thérèse Wagner Kayikwamba in the future.