Women’s political participation and leadership in public institutions remain disproportionately low in Haut-Lomami Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite constitutional guarantees of gender equality. This study analyzes the structural, socio-cultural, economic, and institutional factors that create and sustain leadership disparities for women in the public sector. Using a mixed-methods approach with surveys, interviews, and document analysis of provincial ministries, local assemblies, and administrative bodies, the research examines how patriarchal norms, limited access to education and finance, weak policy enforcement, and political party practices shape women’s opportunities. Findings reveal that cultural perceptions of leadership, insecurity, and lack of mentorship networks are stronger barriers than legal frameworks alone. The study concludes that closing the gender gap in Haut-Lomami requires moving beyond liberal, legalistic reforms to address embedded cultural attitudes, economic empowerment, and party-level recruitment practices. Recommendations target policymakers, Civil Society Organizations, and traditional authorities to foster inclusive governance. Women’s underrepresentation in public leadership undermines democracy and development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, yet Haut-Lomami records the lowest rates of female leaders despite constitutional gender parity guarantees. This study used a mixed-methods design to examine factors affecting women’s political participation and leadership disparities in Haut-Lomami public institutions from 2015 to 2026. Data were collected from 381survey respondents and five key informant interviews across Bukama, Kabongo, Kamina, Kaniama and Malemba-Nkulu territories, and analyzed using SPSS/Excel and thematic coding. The study found that socio-cultural norms delegitimizing female authority had the highest impact with a mean of 4.10 , followed by economic barriers such as campaign costs and childcare burden with a mean of 3.88. Institutional enforcement of parity laws was weakest with a mean of 2.98. Regression analysis showed that culture and economy predicted 67% of leadership disparity. This study argues that weak enforcement of parity laws combined with patriarchal cultural norms and economic marginalization, not lack of legislation, is the main reason women remain excluded from leadership positions in Haut-Lomami province. The Study recommends that the Provincial Assembly of Haut-Lomami introduce mandatory sanctions for parties violating the 30% quota by 2027, create a provincial Women’s Campaign Fund, and engage traditional chiefs in male-ally sensitization programs.