Judith Suminwa | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Suminwa in 2025 | |
| Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Assumed office 12 June 2024 | |
| President | Félix Tshisekedi |
| Preceded by | Sama Lukonde |
| Minister of State Minister of Planning | |
| In office 24 March 2023 – April 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Sama Lukonde |
| Preceded by | Christian Mwando Nsimba [fr] |
| Succeeded by | Eustache Muhanzi (interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1967-10-19)19 October 1967 (age 58) |
| Party | Union for Democracy and Social Progress |
| Spouse | Roger Tuluka |
| Education | Catholic university of Mons Université libre de Bruxelles |
Judith Suminwa Tuluka (born 19 October 1967) is a Congolese politician who has served asPrime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2024, and is the first woman to hold the position. Prior to her tenure as prime minister she was Minister of State and Minister of Planning.
Judith Suminwa Tuluka was born inKongo Central,[1] on 19 October 1967.[2] Her father was the ambassador toChad duringMobutu Sese Seko's presidency.[3] She graduated from theCatholic university of Mons with abachelor's degree in applied economic sciences[4] and from theUniversité libre de Bruxelles with amaster's degree in labour studies.[5][3] She returned to the DRC in 1997, and worked atCitibank.[3]
Suminwa applied to theOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and worked as an administrative and financial assistant before becoming a member of theUnited Nations Development Programme.[3]
She is a member ofUnion for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).[5] She was deputy coordinator of the Presidential Council for Strategic Monitoring. She was appointed to theLukonde cabinet as Minister of State and Minister of Planning in 2023.[6]
Prime MinisterSama Lukonde submitted his resignation on 21 February 2024.[7] She is the first woman to serve as prime minister.[5] Her initialcabinet contained 54 people, with 18 being women.[8]
Suminwa is married to Roger Tuluka, a former classmate ofFélix Tshisekedi who she met in Belgium in the 1990s.[3]
Suminwa has been critical ofRwanda for itsoccupation of areas in eastern DRC and accused it of supporting rebel groups, such as theCongo River Alliance, to overthrow the DRC's government.[9]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2024–present | Incumbent |