Congo-Brazzaville – July 07, 2025.
In a powerful personal statement issued on July 7, 2025, from Brazzaville, Dr. Françoise Joly responds to recent sexist and xenophobic attacks with a resolute reaffirmation of her mission, values, and the rising role of African women in leadership.
Over the past few days, I have been the target of personal attacks laced with sexism and xenophobia. These assaults do not question my competence or my results — they target who I am: a young, African, multicultural woman serving in a strategic role at the highest levels of the State.
Such petty discourse is not part of any legitimate debate of ideas. It belongs to another era — a time when silencing a woman meant reducing her to her gender, her origins, or her private life. These types of attacks often reveal more about those who make them than about the person they seek to undermine.
My loyalty lies with the Republic of Congo and with the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso. Every day, I put my expertise to work in the service of our country’s strategic visibility and influence on the global stage — through diligent, discreet, and responsible efforts.
I will continue to uphold and embody the values that unite us: respect, equality, and dignity. And I will do so not by apologizing for being different, but by embracing the freedom to be who I am. I remain steadfast in my mission and will continue to lead our negotiations and strategic alliances with the same energy, professionalism, and integrity that have guided me since day one.
In the face of pressure, baseless rumors, and attempts to discredit my work, I stand in the tradition of women who have embraced their strength with courage. Margaret Thatcher — one of the first women to challenge the norms of power — once said: ‘This lady’s not for turning.’ I am here because of merit, loyalty, and commitment. And I will remain true to this mission, undeterred by intimidation or stereotypes.
What I represent is not just an individual path. It is the emergence of a new generation of African women — free, capable, and standing tall in service of the Continent. Women who work, who lead, who shape the future of Africa with vision and resolve, women who have chosen to restore Africa to its rightful greatness.
And this work has only just begun.
Source: FrancoiseJoly.com
