DR Congo President Impregnates Foreign Affairs Minister

DRC President Faces Political Pressure Amid Alleged Affair Involving Foreign Minister

February 7,2026

President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing growing personal and political pressure following reports of an intimate relationship with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, who is said to be pregnant.

The development has sparked intense public debate and media scrutiny in Kinshasa and beyond, with reports suggesting that the situation has caused tension within the presidential household. According to political sources, First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi is reportedly unhappy with the controversy and has called for the minister’s resignation.

Ms. Kayikwamba Wagner, 43, has reportedly confirmed her pregnancy amid widespread public commentary and criticism on social media. While the Congolese presidency has not issued an official statement on the personal aspects of the matter, political analysts say the situation has become a sensitive issue for the administration.

In an apparent effort to defuse the domestic and political fallout while safeguarding the minister’s career, President Tshisekedi is said to be supporting her possible transition to an international diplomatic role. She is being considered as the Democratic Republic of Congo’s candidate for Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

If confirmed, Ms. Kayikwamba Wagner would challenge the incumbent Secretary General, Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, who is seeking an unprecedented third term. The election is scheduled to take place during the OIF Summit in November 2026 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The DRC government has already confirmed its intention to present a candidate for the position as part of broader efforts to reassert its influence within the Francophonie, particularly amid ongoing regional rivalries with Rwanda.

However, analysts note that Ms. Mushikiwabo remains the clear frontrunner, buoyed by strong backing from several member states, her incumbency since 2019, and Rwanda’s active diplomatic campaign in her favor. A successful challenge by the DRC candidate is widely viewed as unlikely.

Observers say the controversy comes at a delicate time for President Tshisekedi, as his administration grapples with persistent insecurity in eastern Congo and mounting diplomatic challenges, turning what might have remained a private matter into a politically consequential episode.