# Dorah Ilunga

Dorah Ilunga is a Belgian politician of Congolese origin. She is the first black female échevin in Belgium. As government official, Dorah was in charge of employment, education, trade, social cohesion and developmental cooperation.

## Career

Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dorah Ilunga arrived in Belgium in 1986 for study without the intention of settling there. After earning a first degree in food, then a degree in science work from the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), she obtained a first job in a defense association of different interests, including all matters relating to citizenship. Then she has coordinated several projects for development cooperation before enter the local mission of the Brussels municipality of Saint-Josse where she led a project for the integration of foreign-born minorities and another project of social cohesion.
Dorah handled worked on youth employment, training and other support for the unemployed plans. Meanwhile, after the municipal elections of 2000, she was appointed Advisor to CPAS (Public Centre for Social Welfare) of the municipality of Saint-Josse where she served on the commission for granting the subsistence (minimum wage). Then joined the municipal council as first black 'échevin', a position she held until 2006. "It was not always obvious" is she recalls. "At the beginning, relationships are often based on fears and everyone inside wonder how to behave. Nevertheless, little by little, things settle. In short, I behaved in pioneering and so I had to fight. My situation was much more difficult than my mistakes have tarnished the image of the entire community that I come from."
Recently, it has opened an office tips and strategies on gender, "Dorah ILUNGA and Associates – DI & A" (non-profit organization – nonprofit), specializing in communication and in the ICT (Information Technology and Communication) in the service of Women in Business. This is a concrete action that combines the power of new information technologies with networking and support to business excellence created, managed or run by women.

## Positions held

* Former Deputy Mayor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode – Brussels
* Town Councillor of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode – Brussels
* Former Member of the Board Council of the CPAS of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode – Brussels
* Former President of the Employment Centre of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
* Former Member of the board of the Public Water company (VIVAQUA)
* Actually member of the public Electricity company (SIBELGA) and the public laboratories (BRULABO)

## Controversy
### December 2016

On December 26, 2016, a 6-year-old boy was hospitalized after standing for hours in the cold on a balcony as punishment by his stepfather. The apartment where the events occurred appeared to be the official address of Dorah Ilunga. She also is the mother of the man who put the child in the cold. This case raised questions about the official home address of Mrs Ilunga. As she is supposed to be living with her mother in a social housing in the municipality, there is a strong indication she has given a false address and committed address fraud.

### October 2023

In October 2023, there was a public outcry on the expense notes.