About the Event
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is preparing for an unprecedented electoral cycle that may culminate in its first peaceful and democratic transfer of power since independence. Congo’s leading religious leaders, through the Commission for Integrity and Electoral Mediation (Commission d’Intégrité et de Médiation Electorale, CIME), have an important role to play in this process. The recent restructuring of the country’s provinces has exacerbated the complexity involved in organizing the upcoming elections. In light of these challenges, please join us for a discussion with civic and religious leaders on ways the DRC’s faith-based community can contribute to the success of these elections.
Program
9:00 – Breakfast and Welcome
Dave Peterson (Senior Director for Africa, National Endowment for Democracy)
9:10 – Introductions
Paul Fagan (Program Director for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, McCain Institute); Bishop Ann Mary Swenson (Vice-Moderator, World Council of Churches)
9:30-11:00 – Panel One: The Faith-Based Community’s Role in Educating Citizens and Monitoring the Elections
Moderator: Rudy Massamba (Program Officer for Central Africa, National Endowment for Democracy)
Speakers: Father Donatien Nshole (Deputy Secretary General, National Episcopal Conference of Congo); Grace Lula Hamba (Agir pour des Elections Apaisées et Transparentes); Bishop David Yemba (United Methodist Church of DRC, Vice Presdient of the Commission on Integrity and Electoral Mediation)
11:00-12:15 – Panel Two: Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating Electoral Fraud and Violence
Moderator: Mvemba Dizolele (Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies)
Speakers: Jacqueline Nembe Luhahi (United Methodist Church of DRC); Stephen Hilbert (Foreign Policy Advisor, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops); Reverend Andre Milenge Mwenelwata (2nd Vice President, Eglise du Christ au Congo)
12:15-12:45 – Lunch Break
12:45-1:15 – Keynote Address: The importance of ensuring DRC’s first democratic alternation of power
Speaker: Jeanne Hruska (Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and the DRC)
1:15-1:30 – Conclusion
