Navigating Pathways to Sustainable Peace and Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Panel 5: Navigating Pathways to Sustainable Peace and Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Makerere University)

This topic addresses the complex challenges facing the DRC while highlighting concrete opportunities for transformative change toward peace, security, and development. Through evidence-based analysis and practical solutions, participants will examine the interconnected dimensions of governance, security, economic development, and regional dynamics to identify viable pathways toward sustainable peace.

The topic will consider challenges to the governance and institutional transformation in the DRC, the presence of weak state institutions and limited governmental capacity, endemic corruption undermining public service delivery, and challenges to security sector reform and stabilization including the fragile relationships with neighboring countries, the proliferation of armed groups in eastern provinces, complex regional security interdependencies and Resource-driven conflict dynamics.

The topic will also consider economic transformation and inclusive development opportunities, the challenges of exploitative global supply chains for strategic minerals, an extractive resource economy with limited benefits to the citizens, critical infrastructure deficits hampering economic integration, a dominant informal economy with exploitation vulnerabilities, as well as how best we can see opportunities for value-addition initiatives for mineral resources with local ownership models. The insights and commitments generated will contribute to more effective policy approaches for the DRC while offering lessons for other complex crisis environments.

Kampala Geopolitics Conference 2025

• Session Type: Panel Conversation
• Time: 11:00 am
• Venue: Yusuf Lule CTF building at Makerere University (Broadcasted)