Ève Bazaiba Masudi (née Ève Bazaiba) (born 12 August 1965) is a Congolese lawyer, politician, and human rights activist. As of May 2019, she served as the Secretary General of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) political party. She is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment since 2021.

Early life and education

Ève Bazaiba was born on 12 August 1965 in Stanleyville (today

Kisangani Kisangani (), formerly Stanleyville (), is the capital of Tshopo, Tshopo Province, located on the Congo River in the eastern part of the central Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the country's fifth-most populous urban a ...

), in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

. She studied Latin and Philosophy at Bosangani High School (Lycée Bosangani), in

Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the Capital city, capital and Cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-grow ...

before being admitted to Cardinal Malula University, also in Kinshasa, and graduating with a Bachelor of International Relations degree. In 2010 Bazaiba earned a law degree from the Protestant University in the Congo.

Career

In 1988, Bazaiba became an activist for the

Union for Democracy and Social Progress The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (, UDPS) is a major political party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Founded in 1982, amid the one-party rule of Mobutu Sese Seko and his Popular Movement of the Revolution, it is the co ...

(UDPS) political party, led by Étienne Tshisekedi. She was arrested several times under the regime of

Mobutu Sese Seko Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga ( ; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997), often shortened to Mobutu Sese Seko or Mobutu and also known by his initials MSS, was a Congolese politician and military officer ...

, imprisoned for four days under the regime of Laurent-Desire Kabila and sued by the government of

Joseph Kabila Joseph Kabila Kabange ( , ; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician and former military officer who served as the fourth President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019. He took office ten days after the assassination o ...

for denouncing corruption in the mining industry. In 2002, she participated in the Sun City talks that set up the transitional government that led to the 2006 elections of the Third Republic. When her party, the UDPS boycotted the elections, she personally pleaded with Étienne Tshisekedi and other party leadership to obtain a waiver to contest. In 2007, she was elected to the Senate as a member of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) political party, by the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly. After serving her five-year term, she became president (chairperson) of the socio-cultural commission at the National Assembly in the

Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

. She is a strong advocate for human rights and particularly the rights of women and other vulnerable groups. During the 2011–2016 legislative session she proposed a bill that provided for special protections for disabled persons. She re-introduced the bill in 2019. As of 2019, she served as the Secretary General of the MLC.

Family

Baizaba is a married mother.

Other responsibilities

Eva Baizaba is the president of the League of Congolese Women for Elections (LIFCE).

References

Works cited

External links

Forestry permit audit in DR Congo poses threat to several industry tycoons
Africa Intelligence, March 21, 2023 (requires free registration)
Gender Inequality And Social Institutions In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo
As of December 2010. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bazaiba, Eve 21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo women politicians 21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo politicians Members of the Senate (Democratic Republic of the Congo) People from Kisangani 1965 births Living people Protestant University in the Congo alumni Women human rights activists