Congo’s Voice in Washington: Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Makes the Case for Peace, Partnership, and Progress

By Ajong Mbapndah L

In the softly lit conference room of Washington’s Four Seasons Hotel, the hum of multilingual conversation filled the air. There were no headsets for translation, just the quiet back-and-forth of interpretation as Democratic Republic of Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the nation’s first woman to hold the office, spoke with measured conviction to journalists from Pan African Visions, Politico, Reuters, and The African Magazine.

Flanked by government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, Suminwa projected calm authority. Her Washington visit was a blend of diplomacy and development outreach — a mission anchored in one core message: Congo seeks peace, credible partnerships, and recognition for its potential, not its pain.

Peace Before Everything

Asked about the faltering June 27th peace accord between the DRC and Rwanda, Suminwa was direct.

“The United States stayed in their mediator role,” she said, “following all the negotiations and discussions that took place.”

Her optimism, however, was tempered by reality.

“The Rwandan troop withdrawal was planned. That was one of the preconditions — along with neutralizing the FDLR. Unfortunately, this could not be done effectively.”

She paused, then spoke with the quiet urgency of someone leading a wounded nation:

“Today, we are talking about seven million displaced people. These are not Rwandan populations — these are Congolese populations being killed. All we ask for is peace, because without peace, it will be difficult to develop this part of the country.”

She recalled President Félix Tshisekedi’s outreach to Rwanda’s Paul Kagame during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels as an act of faith.

“We are entering a peace process,” she said softly. “For us, peace is the best thing.”

Negotiating with Washington

Attention soon turned to Washington’s renewed engagement with Congo under the Trump administration, which has placed strategic minerals back at the center of U.S.-Africa policy.

Suminwa described a “strategic dialogue” encompassing political mediation and economic cooperation.

“We have asked the Trump administration to put more pressure on all the involved parties,” she said, “so that we can see, on the ground, that the agreements are really taking effect.”

On critical minerals — cobalt, lithium, and copper — she welcomed American interest but set clear boundaries.

“We want to move up the value chain,” she explained. “We are looking at refining and transformation within the DRC, ensuring transparent and equitable value chains.”

Her visit coincided with an economic forum in Washington, where Congo courted investors in mining, energy, and infrastructure.

“We are ready to work with private companies,” she said. “But always within a framework that ensures transparency and sovereignty.”

Achievements and Challenges at Home

When asked by Pan African Visions to reflect on her first year in office, Suminwa’s expression softened — proud, yet pragmatic.

“One of the main achievements has been stabilizing the macroeconomic situation,” she said. “When I was nominated, the Congolese franc was depreciating heavily. We have stabilized it for nearly a year and a half, maintained fuel prices, and improved dialogue with unions and importers to keep essential goods affordable — all this in a time of war.”

Her biggest disappointment came without hesitation:

“Despite all our efforts, we have not yet achieved peace. That remains the greatest challenge. Every franc we spend on war is a franc we cannot use to develop our country.”

Security and Investor Confidence

Suminwa dismissed the perception that Congo was too unstable for investment.

“The conflict affects less than 20% of our territory — mainly North and South Kivu,” she said firmly. “Eighty percent of the country is peaceful and open for business.”

She cited a $1.5 billion hydropower deal with HydroLink Power and American-backed projects such as the Lobito Corridor, which links Angola, Zambia, and the DRC to the Atlantic coast.

“The Lobito Corridor is not just a railway,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for regional growth. Around it, we want to build new economic zones — and we want American companies to be part of that story.”

Balancing Beijing and Washington

Asked whether Congo was pivoting away from China, Suminwa smiled diplomatically.

“We want diversification — of our economy and of our partnerships.”

She noted that the 2008 Sino-Congolese infrastructure-for-minerals deal had been renegotiated to ensure fairer terms.

“We revised the agreement so that Congo gets better infrastructure for what we give. We have no issue with Chinese companies that operate legally. But we will not accept exploitation that is not in the people’s interest.”

Death Sentence of Former President Kabila

Fielding a question on what went wrong between the orderly transition and exemplary camaraderie that was on display between President Tshisekedi and his predecessor Joseph Kabila, Prime Minister Suminwa said the courts found the former President working with known enemies against the interests of Congo.  While she found it unconscionable from a former President, she indicated that in the DR Congo, there is separation of powers and the case and its verdict were handled by the Judiciary which is an independent organ from the executive branch that she belongs to.

Governance and Anti-Corruption

On governance reforms, Suminwa was unequivocal.

“We’re digitizing tax systems to reduce human contact and opportunities for corruption,” she said. “And for the first time, the DRC successfully completed an IMF program. That is proof of progress and accountability.”

A Woman of Firsts

Asked what message she had for young women inspired by her rise, Suminwa answered in French — but her warmth transcended language.

“Education — access to education,” she said. “That’s the foundation. I want young girls and boys to know that there is no job only for men or only for women. Anyone with education can do anything.”

She added that under President Tshisekedi, women’s representation in government had risen from 17% to 33%.

“That’s a clear message — women have a role to play in developing our country.”

A Closing Note

As the cameras clicked and aides shuffled papers, Judith Suminwa thanked the journalists in both English and French. The translator, visibly relieved after an hour of rapid code-switching, smiled broadly.

In a week dominated by talk of minerals, geopolitics, and money, Suminwa’s final words returned to principle and purpose.

“We are not asking for pity,” she said. “We are asking for partnership. Because peace in Congo is peace for all of Africa.”