Prospects for democracy, security, and political reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is gearing up for its fourth presidential election under the 2006 constitution, set for December 20 this year. The aftermath of the 2018 elections — in which the opposition and some of the international community questioned the legitimacy of the results — has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the upcoming polls. Beyond the electoral sphere, constituents are concerned about how a new government will tackle the country’s array of socioeconomic and security challenges, particularly in the eastern part of the DRC, which have vast implications for the region at large.

On August 14, join the Brookings Africa Security Initiative for a conversation with Martin Fayulu, opposition leader and former DRC presidential candidate, and policy experts on the strategic, military, and economic trends of the DRC and the significance of the upcoming election for regional stability and U.S.-China competition in Africa.

Online viewers can submit questions via e-mail to events@brookings.edu or via Twitter @BrookingsFP using #DRC.

Panel

• Fred Bauma, Senior Fellow – NYU Center on International Cooperation, Executive Secretary – Ebuteli
• Jason Stearns, Senior Fellow – NYU Center on International Cooperation, Founder – Congo Research Group
• Stephanie Wolters, Research and Editorial Director – Okapi Consulting, Senior Research Fellow – South African Institute of International Affairs
• Michael E. O’Hanlon, Director of Research – Foreign Policy, Director – Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Co-Director – Africa Security Initiative, Senior Fellow – Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy, moderator