Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi has mandated Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka to represent the country at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Suminwa is scheduled to take part in the high-level proceedings from September 22 to 26, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. She will present the DRC’s position on international issues including peace and security, sustainable development, international cooperation and multilateralism.
The decision marks a change from previous years, when Tshisekedi personally attended the annual high-level gathering. The official statement does not give a reason for the president’s decision to stay away, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the significance of the change in representation.
Suminwa’s agenda will extend beyond the General Assembly’s formal proceedings. The prime minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the DRC’s partners and other interlocutors on areas that the government identifies as national priorities, including peace, security, development, investment and economic partnerships.
The timing places the DRC delegation at an important point in the country’s international engagement. Kinshasa continues to deal with security challenges in the east while participating in international diplomatic efforts related to the conflict. The United Nations has remained an important part of this broader diplomatic environment, including through its peacekeeping and monitoring role in the country. In February, Tshisekedi discussed the implementation of ceasefire monitoring mechanisms linked to both the Washington peace agreement and the Doha process with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
The 81st General Assembly opened on September 8, while its high-level General Debate is scheduled for September 22–26 and September 28. The session is being held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”
For Suminwa, the New York visit will provide an opportunity to present the DRC’s positions directly to international partners while pursuing bilateral discussions on security, development and economic cooperation. The government has not indicated that her presence represents a change in the country’s broader diplomatic approach, making the prime minister’s mandate the clearest confirmed feature of the DRC’s participation this year.
