Democratic Republic of the Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka has arrived in Tanzania to participate in the first Women’s Parliamentary Conference for the Great Lakes Region, a four-day gathering bringing together women legislators and other regional leaders to discuss peace, security and development.
Suminwa was received at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam by Tanzania’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki, ahead of the conference, which runs from November 2 to 5 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).
The Congolese prime minister is attending as a distinguished guest at the conference, organised by Tanzania’s Parliament in collaboration with the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR). The gathering is being held under the theme, “For a Peaceful and Developed Great Lakes Region.”
Approximately 250 delegates are expected to attend, including women parliamentarians from the 12 member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, parliamentary leaders, representatives of regional organisations, civil society groups and development partners. The participating countries include Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Angola, Zambia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
The conference comes as countries across the Great Lakes region continue to face challenges involving armed conflict, insecurity, displacement and competition over natural resources. Organizers say the meeting will provide a platform for women legislators to strengthen cooperation and contribute to regional responses through parliamentary leadership and diplomacy.
According to the Congolese Prime Minister’s Office, Suminwa is expected to speak on the role of women in inclusive governance, parliamentary diplomacy, and the search for lasting solutions to conflicts in the Great Lakes region. Her participation also offers an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the DRC and other countries in the region.
Discussions are expected to focus on women’s contributions to conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding; the use of parliamentary and legislative tools to promote security and stability; and the integration of gender perspectives into economic and development policies.
The conference is also expected to bring together representatives of regional institutions, including the African Union, the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, alongside civil society organizations and international development partners.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan was announced as the conference’s Guest of Honour ahead of the gathering. The event is expected to provide a regional platform for women parliamentarians to exchange experiences and develop practical proposals on issues affecting communities across the Great Lakes region.
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