The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is gearing up for its fourth presidential election under the 2006 constitution, set for December 20 this year. The aftermath of the 2018 elections — in which the opposition and some of the international community questioned the legitimacy of the results — has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the upcoming polls. Beyond the electoral sphere, constituents are concerned about how a new government will tackle the country’s array of socioeconomic and security challenges, particularly in the eastern part of the DRC, which have vast implications for the region at large.
On August 14, the Brookings Africa Security Initiative hosted a conversation with Martin Fayulu, opposition leader and former DRC presidential candidate, and policy experts on the strategic, military, and economic trends of the DRC and the significance of the upcoming election for regional stability and U.S.-China competition in Africa.