The Way Forward in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In August, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) held its first elections in over 40 years. Yet the death toll from the humanitarian crisis in the DRC remains staggering, with millions forced to flee their homes due to fighting between government forces and rebel groups. According to the United Nations established Inter-Agency Standing Committee, there are roughly 1.5 million internally displaced persons in the Congo with more people being displaced every month. The new government will be tasked with the challenge of bringing peace and stability to a country facing one of the deadliest crises since World War II.

On December 18, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the crisis and the way forward, with opening remarks by Ambassador William Swing, special representative of the Secretary General in the DRC. Following his remarks, leading experts discussed how the international community can support efforts to end the violence. Participants included: Anthony Gambino, former director, USAID Mission to the DRC; William O’Neill, author of A New Challenge for Peacekeepers: The Internally Displaced; and Susan E. Rice, senior fellow, Brookings and former assistant secretary of state for African affairs during the Clinton Administration. Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow, Brookings, moderated the discussion.