Judith Suminwa Tuluka Sworn In as First Female Prime Minister of the DRC
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Tuluka Vows to Propel DRC Toward an Era of Economic Growth and Security.
Kinshasa, DRC – In a historic move for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Judith Suminwa Tuluka was sworn in as the country’s first female prime minister early Wednesday. The ceremony, held before the National Assembly, saw Tuluka and the other 54 new government members officially take office after deputies approved her action program with the required absolute majority.
Tuluka, presenting her action program on Tuesday afternoon, expressed her pride in breaking the “glass ceiling” as the first Congolese woman to hold the prime minister’s office. “By assuming this position, I am fully aware of the historical importance of this moment and the symbolism of this appointment for the Congolese nation,” Tuluka stated. “I feel both the weight of the responsibility on me and immense pride in representing the culmination of the efforts of all Congolese men and women tending to break the famous ‘glass ceiling.'”
In her address, Tuluka outlined her vision for an “emerging Congo,” pledging to create approximately 2.6 million jobs and establish an academy of mathematics and artificial intelligence in Kinshasa. She also laid out plans for national security, economic diversification, infrastructure connectivity, public services, and climate change.
Tuluka, who holds a master’s degree in applied economics from the Universite libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, brings extensive experience to her new role. She was appointed state minister for Planning in March 2023 and served as deputy coordinator of the Presidential Strategic Monitoring Council from 2020 to 2023, an agency affiliated with the presidential office.
The new government, unveiled on May 29, consists of 55 members, including the prime minister, six deputy prime ministers, and 10 state ministers. This reshuffle sees a slight reduction from the 57 members in the previous administration in March 2023.
Tuluka’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the DRC’s political landscape, symbolizing progress and the breaking of long-standing barriers for women in the country. The nation watches with anticipation as she embarks on her journey to implement her ambitious action program and steer the DRC towards a promising future.
