Seminar: Do Elections Matter? Democratization in the DRC at a Crossroads

Elections are an inevitable phase in the democratization process in post-conflict DRC. But are they enough to bring about real change? This seminar will assess how the elections have contributed to political awareness and mobilization. While they gave hope for a brief period, they have also opened up new wounds and caused serious social frustration. People are claiming that they have been robbed of their democratic rights but the opposition does not have a workable strategy and is losing momentum. And Congo’s international partners are powerless to do little more than voice limited criticism. President Kabila is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Ordinary Congolese are, however, the main victims of a political stalemate that is mortgaging development prospects for the post-electoral phase.