5 female candidates on the Congolese elections
In the run-up to the Congolese elections, 11.11.11 and its partners set up a project with the main goal: a record number of Congolese women on the national, provincial and local electoral lists. Successfully!
14 Dec 2023
5 minutes
Together with 10 Congolese civil society organisations, we managed to coach more than 1.000 women in their candidacy. We spoke to 5 Congolese women who are connected to the project.
KAPINGA KAMONA MAMIE fights against intimidation
Standing as a woman in the Congolese elections is not so obvious in a political culture dominated by men. Kapinga Kamona Mamie from Kinshasa knows this too, who works daily experiences intimidation firsthand. “Intimidation is common here. There are often men who are condescending towards female candidates: 'Look at that woman over there. Instead of taking care of her family, she wants to compete with men.'”
“People even say openly: 'If you choose a woman to sit in parliament, it gives her the opportunity to in to prostitute parliament,” assuming that women can only hold important positions if they prostitute themselves. But this kind of fear-mongering will not stop Kapinga. And that is why she is standing up as candidate for the National Parliament in Lukunga (Kinshasa): “I hold my head high, straighten my shoulders and say to myself with determination: 'I will continue.'”
Many female candidates who want to be on the electoral list of a political party are often confronted with requests for sexual favorsThis shameful practice casts a shadow over the integrity of women who want to engage in politics. It also discourages many women, making them reluctant to participate in the political process at all. As a result, more and more women are running as independent candidates, not affiliated with a political party.
DORIS M'BO IZAPANGO: “Independence is the path to self-confidence for women”
Doris stands up for the National Parliament in Ukunga (Kinshasa). Also supported by the coaching of local 11.11.11-partners she emphasizes it importance of direct contact with voters: "I refuse to be a Member of Parliament who is out of touch with her audience."
But perhaps even more importantly, her candidacy is also a political and social statement. Empowering women and breaking through unjustly learned insecurities are crucial to her: "Women are not insecure at all, the question is: who made them believe that? We have always been made to believe that we are nothing without a man. Independence is the path to self-confidence for women. I therefore feel the need to guide these women in their independence."
AGNÈS SADIKI NYABISOKI: “Women make up the majority of the population in Congo, but they are not represented in politics.”
In addition to greater independence for women, Congolese civil society has also expressed its concerns several times about the poor inclusion of women in the electoral process. Social organizations receive little to no support. And their attempts to mobilize and sensitize female voters therefore fall through. This is not only the case in the run-up to the elections. Outside of election time, these organizations can also count on little support.
Agnès Sadiki Nyabisoki also testifies to this. She is candidate for the Provincial Parliament in the Shabunda constituency in the South Kivu province. She points to a glaring democratic deficit if women are not more involved in the political process, both as candidates and as voters.Women make up the majority of the Congolese population and the population of South Kivu. But if you look at the institutions where decisions are made, women are not represented there. How can we call ourselves a democratic country if the majority (women) are excluded from governance. That is very problematic.”
AKONKWA BYAMUNGU BRIGITTE: from socially committed teacher to election candidate
Brigitte also endorses the demands of the midfield. She is candidate for the Provincial Parliament in Walungu (South Kivu). As a lecturer in public health at the University of Bukavu, she was invited several times confronted with inequality at the universities. The social aspect in her program is therefore the spearhead she is highlighting: “Social inequalities are not limited to universities; they are present everywhere, in all sectors of our country. This prompted me to enter politics, despite my earlier aversion to politics in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, through my experiences in the trade union, I realized that real impact is played out in politics.”
The conservative mentality makes that many challenges are for women who want to stand up during the elections. Also among women themselves, "especially because they believe that female politicians cannot properly fulfill their traditional role as Congolese women," Brigitte knows.
But youth work is also an important spearhead for Brigitte: "The youth in our region struggle with a disturbing high unemployment rate. It is a harsh reality that I have personally had to deal with and that has made me insecure. The training of 11.11.11 has prepared me psychologically for the challenges that this brings. In short: the coaching has made many candidates stronger. Now it is up to us to use that strength to to create a better future in Walungu and the entire nation.”
MARIE-JOSÉE IFOKU: “Women must support each other during the election campaign”
For the Congolese presidential election in december there are only two female candidates. Marie-Josée Ifoku is one of them. That is quite special, because it is not self-evident in a political culture where mainly men have the say.
Marie-Josée Ifoku also explicitly attributes the failure of the political system to the dominant male political culture. “Men have ruled in Congo for decades, but which sector has actually improved? And when people say that Congo is not ready for a female president? Excuse me, but that is an outdated mentality.”
To women, Ifoku therefore says: “Support other women. The more women in public and political life, the more we will find each other and be able to unite.”
