Jeannine Mabunda

Jeanine Mabunda Lioko Mudiayi (born 10 April 1964) is a Congolese lawyer and politician who in 2019 became the first woman elected to lead the Democratic Republic of the Congo's National Assembly. She was impeached on 10 December 2020, through a democratic vote by the National Assembly with 281 votes.

Early life and education She was born on 10 April 1964 in Kinshasa and from the ICHEC Brussels Management School in economics.

Career Mabunda was an executive of the Central Bank of Congo and was Director General of the Industry Promotion Fund for five years.

Mabunda was elected to the National Assembly in 2011 and re-elected in 2018 to represent Bumba in Mongala province.

On 24 April 2019, Mabunda was elected to lead the Congolese National Assembly, becoming the first woman to do so. She was the only candidate after her challenger Henry Thomas Lokondo was ruled ineligible. She was nominated by former President Kabila and supported by President Félix Tshisekedi. Mabunda promised to work with all members of the legislative chamber in the interest of citizens. In her first speech, she emphasised the urgency of appointing a Prime Minister.