KPAC24 Session organised by VNG International
November 20, 2024 | 15:00-16:30
Session Language: French (English translation TBD)
Session Description:
How do you stabilize the war-torn eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo where over 120 local and foreign armed groups are present? How do you build trust between citizens and local governments amongst a track record of weak capacities and corruption? How do you alter police behavior from outright harassment to performant security service delivery? How do you ensure that citizens’ solutions for local security issues are heard and taken into consideration? How can stabilization strategies foster local ownership off the process towards a peaceful future?
These are the questions that ESPER, a program implemented in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces by VNG International and Cordaid and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has dealt with in eastern DRC, between 2020-2024 (video).
Lessons learned about decentralized security governance in DRC cannot be seen in isolation from broader international dynamics around collective conflict management such as international peacekeeping missions. After a quarter of century, MONUSCO started its withdrawal from DRC, bearing resemblance to the MINUSMA pull-out in 2023 from Mali. How can the security vacuum best be filled? Is there even a vacuum or is it live goes on? Who should play the main role? How to support local government to govern security? Are they willing and capable?
Through online opinion polling and a Lagerhouse-style debate that involves Congolese (local) government representatives, security duty-bearers, civil society, we jointly rethink stabilization strategies for fragile contexts. The session converges towards concluding remarks about how best practices can be reinforced and can inspire future support to local security governance in fragile contexts.
Speakers:
General Ebua Gobula Sébastien, National Coordinator of the Police Reform Unit . Police Nationale Congolaise DRC
Mulolo Kanimbu Didier, Director, Head of Department, Department of Studies and Planning. IGTER DRC
Mabiswa Selemani Jean de Dieu, Territorial Administrator of Uvira DRC
Ibrahim Ahmadou DICKO Expert on criminology Mali