Mbuji-Mayi, September 15th, 2025 (CPA).-« Never again will the Democratic Republic of Congo build its future without women. This is the political and social commitment made by the National Minister for Gender, Family and Children on Sunday in Mbuji-Mayi in East Kasai (central DRC) at the close of the eighth edition of the National Forum of Provincial Ministers and Division Heads.‘We talked about the suffering of our war-torn provinces, we thought about the women in the east, the displaced, the girls who have been raped, the families torn apart by these multiple conflicts. And we say, ‘Never again will the Democratic Republic of Congo build its future without women, ‘has said Micheline Ombahe Kalama, National Minister in charge of Gender, Family and Children.Over the years, this forum has become a tradition and a meeting place for dialogue and consultation, where the national strategy for pushing women’s equality and empowerment is developed. It is also part of a historic mobilisation for lasting peace, human dignity and inclusive reconstruction, driven by the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making, » has added Ms Ombahe.This year’s theme, ‘Women, Peace, Security and Post-Conflict Recovery,’ is a powerful reminder that where women are excluded, peace remains fragile, but where women participate, peace becomes sustainable, she stressed.The national minister in charge of GFE commends the efforts made by the Head of State in favour of gender equality‘Allow me to pay tribute to His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic, Father of all families and protector of all children. Under his leadership, the voices of Congolese women are breaking through the walls of silence to become a voice that builds peace,’ has said Minister Ombahe. « I renew, here and now, the commitment of the Ministry in charge of Gender, Family and Children to implement the recommendations resulting from this work, which will be in line with my priority actions in accordance with the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic in relation to the government’s mission statement, based on three main areas, namely the fight against gender-based violence, the promotion of gender equality and the protection of the rights of women, families and children, and the promotion of positive masculinity, » she made it known.‘At the same time, I also call on each province to take ownership of this vision and assume its share of responsibility, to raise the banner of the fight against violence higher, and to give our women and girls the means to be reborn, even after the storm,’ concluded Minister Ombahe Kalama.
Subtitle: Kasaï Oriental committed to implementing these recommendations
The interim provincial governor, for his part, has made a commitment to ensure that the recommendations from this major Kasaï forum are implemented. « As acting governor of this province, I solemnly pledge that Kasaï Oriental will be the primary area of implementation for the recommendations of this forum. We will work tirelessly to operationalize the provincial “women, peace and security” platform, which will serve as a permanent framework for consultation, dialogue, monitoring and early warning, and to integrate the conclusions of this forum across the board into the revised provincial development plan with a dedicated budget line, » has promised the interim provincial governor of Kasaï Oriental, Dr Augustin Kayemba Mulemena. ‘The Mbuji-Mayi Declaration that has just been adopted is not just a simple document. It is a moral contract, a roadmap that commits all the provinces and the central government. It carries with it the hope of a better, fairer and more equitable future for all Congolese women and men, ‘has said the head of the provincial executive. At the end of the event, the provincial authority presented Minister Micheline Ombahe with a trophy and an honorary diploma in recognition of her organisation of this forum, which brought together all the provinces here in Kasaï Oriental in an electric atmosphere.