In the current pre-electoral deadlock, political and security tensions are on the rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Worrying attempts to undermine democratic change, shrinking democratic space, and a dramatic increase in human rights violations pose an acute threat to a credible and peaceful transfer of power in Congo’s young democracy.
Twelve days before the end of President Kabila’s constitutional mandate, the Open Society European Policy Institute, together with the European Network for Central Africa and Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations, will bring together institutional and civil society actors to discuss the role and responsibility of the European Union to support a credible democratic process—and to help prevent an escalation of violence and abuse in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speakers
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Marta Martinelli
Moderator
Until February 2022, Marta Martinelli was head of the EU external relations team for the Open Society European Policy Institute.
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Koen Vervaeke
Speaker
Koen Vervaeke is Africa director at European External Action Service (TBC).
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Renier Nijskens
Speaker
Renier Nijskens is Belgian special envoy for the Great Lakes region.
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José Maria Aranaz
Speaker
José Maria Aranaz is representative of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights in DRC and director of the UN Joint Human Rights Office.
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Abbé Donatien Nshole
Speaker
Abbé Donatien Nshole is deputy executive secretary of Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO).
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Bob Ngutu
Speaker
Bob Ngutu is national coordinator at Bureau De Formation et De Recherches pour un Développement Intégré (BUFORDI).
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Donatella Rostagno
Speaker
Donatella Rostagno is executive secretary at the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc).