Marie-Josée Ifoku
Marie-Josée Ifoku | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of Tshuapa Province | |
| In office October 2016 – October 2017 | |
| President | Joseph Kabila |
| Preceded by | Cyprien Lomboto |
| Succeeded by | Pancrace Boongo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 February 1965 Kinshasa |
| Political party | Alliance of Elites for A New Congo |
Marie-Josée Ifoku Mputa Mpunga (born 6 February 1965, Kinshasa)[1] is a Congolese politician and was the only female candidate in the 2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo presidential election. She was also the governor of the Tshuapa Province in 2016–2017.
Biography
[edit]She was born in 1965 in Kinshasa and spent her childhood in Belgium and the Netherlands before returning to the DRC and graduating from a high school in the capital. She later attended a university in France and in Canada. Ifoku worked in real estate and in the automobile industry for several years. In 2004 she returned to the DRC.[2][3]
Ifoku began her political career in 2015 as a deputy special commissioner of Tshuapa Province. She later became vice-governor and then governor of the province. Ifoku cites Catherine Samba-Panza as her inspiration for becoming involved in politics.[2][3]
In 2018 she ran as the presidential candidate of the Alliance of Elites for A New Congo.[2][3]
References
[edit]- ^ Liste définitive des candidats président. Elections du 23 décembre 2018 (in French). ceni.cd. Independent National Election Commission of the DRC.
- ^ a b c DRC: IFOKU MPUTA MPUNGA MARIE JOSEE – THE ONLY FEMALE CANDIDATE IN LONG AWAITED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 14 December 2018
- ^ a b c Meet the only woman among 25 men willing to succeed Kabila in troubled DR Congo. 21 August 2018.
