Prospects for Peace and Democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The transitional government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo plans to hold democratic elections in 2005. But massive poverty, continued fighting, and quarrels over the establishment of an independent electoral commission are just some of the obstacles facing the third largest country in Africa.

On February 24, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations conducted a presentation that was followed by comments from Chester Crocker of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and Suliman Baldo of the International Crisis Group. They discussed what the international community can do to ensure the desired outcomes in the DRC and looked at how tensions between the DRC and its neighbors, particularly Rwanda, can be effectively managed.

Speakers

• Jean-Marie Guéhenno
  UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations
• Chester Crocker, Discussant
  School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University; and member, U.S. Institute of Peace Board of Directors
• Suliman Baldo, International Crisis Group
• David Smock, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator