Political Advisor, Party Leader [Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)]
Angèle Makombo is a distinguished diplomat, lawyer, and advocate for regional integration, currently serving as the Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration at the Southern African Development Community (SADC). With a career spanning decades, she has held prominent roles in governance, diplomacy, and social development.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Makombo served as a Counselor of the Republic and Member of the Environment and Natural Resources Commission at the Economic and Social Council of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She is also the Founding Member and National Chairperson of the League of Congolese Democrats (LIDEC), through which she has championed democratic values and governance. As a presidential candidate in both the 2011 and 2018 elections, she has been a prominent voice in DRC politics.
Ms. Makombo spent nearly 24 years with the United Nations, focusing on conflict prevention, resolution, and institution building in Africa. She served as a senior political officer in the offices of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, playing a pivotal role in addressing African issues at the highest level of international diplomacy.
An accomplished academic, Ms. Makombo holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and is an alumna of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (SciencesPo). She also earned her admission certificate to the Professional Training Center for Attorneys of Paris (CRFPA). A prolific writer, she has published numerous articles on politics and socio-economic issues in the DRC.
In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Makombo has a longstanding commitment to education and empowerment. For 15 years, she chaired a non-profit organization that provided funding and support to girls from low-income families in Kinshasa, enabling them to attend school and pursue brighter futures.
Through her work in regional integration, governance, and advocacy, Angèle Makombo continues to contribute to Africa’s development and champion initiatives that foster peace, inclusion, and social progress.