Judith Suminwa Tuluka, new prime minister of DRC, studied in Belgium

Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the new prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, studied in Belgium, the official Congolese news agency (ACP) reported on Tuesday.

Tuluka is the DRC's first female prime minister. Her appointment comes just over three months after elections won by outgoing president Félix Tshisekedi. She succeeds Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, who had been prime minister since February 2021.

Suminwa initially wanted to become a doctor or join the army, but eventually decided to study economics because she dreamed of working in a bank. She started studying economics at UC Louvain and switched to accountancy when she did not pass the programme.

Suminwa eventually obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees in applied economics from the University of Mons. She then took an additional degree in labour science, specialising in labour in developing countries. 

In December 1997, she returned to Congo, where she gained professional experience in the banking sector and with UN agencies before becoming minister of Planning. 

^{​Judith Tuluka Suminwa and President Felix Tshisekedi. Photo © DRC Presidency/Handout via Xinhua}

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