Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, is a central African state that exhibits low levels of performance across all four categories of the Global State of Democracy framework. It is among the bottom 25 per cent of countries with regard to Representation, Rights and Rule of Law. Over the past five years, however, it has seen marked improvements in Rule of Law and has not suffered from any declines.
DRC is economically dependent on its mining industry,which has left it vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and exploitation. DRC gained independence from over five decades of Belgian colonization in 1960, which was characterised by corruption, human rights abuses, and impunity. These challenges continue in a country that has also endured decades of armed conflict in its eastern provinces and related humanitarian crises, and a history of autocratic clientelist political rule since its independence. Despite being burdened by one of the worst poverty rates in the world, its economic outlook is one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
DRC’s political history has been marked by extreme levels of graft. Former President Joseph-Desire Mobutu, who took power in a bloodless coup and ruled from 1965 to 1997, amassed a personal fortune of between 5 and 10 billion USD while using Western support to maintain political stability. Rampant corruption, often fuelled by the illegal mining of the country’s vast natural resources, has continued to mark the landscape. Armed conflict has also been a defining feature of the context, colouring the entire region; up to eight African countries have been involved at certain points. There are hundreds of rebel groups operating in DRC and some are believed to be supported by neighbouring states which has resulted in strained regional relations. Notably, eastern DRC (North and South Kivu and Ituri) have become the site of ethnic conflict and violent resource competition, which have also resulted in controversial United Nations peacekeeping interventions dating to 1999. Long-standing ethnic tensions have resulted in discrimination and violence against groups such as the Ethnic Twa persons and Rwandaphones, while complex inter-communal violence between different ethnic groups persist.
DRC is among the world’s bottom 25 per cent with regard to performance on Gender Equality. Over the course of the conflict, an estimated one million women have been raped and sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war. UN peacekeepers have also been accused of sexual exploitation. The attainment of gender equality is also challenged by significant gender gaps in the labour market and low representation of women in political leadership despite the law providing for gender parity.
Political influence on DRC courts significantly impairs Judicial Independence. Broader institutional reforms are needed to prevent dubious elections in the future and to promote accountability for the corruption that plagues the country. DRC confronts numerous domestic and regional threats to its human rights and democracy performance, which are worsened by DRC’s lack of control over the use of force. The extensive conflict and instability impact all aspects of democracy, and performance across all categories should be monitored.
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
May 2024
Several killed and dozens arrested in alleged coup attempt
On 19 May, the Congolese army announced that it had foiled a coup attempt, having that morning halted an attack by armed men on the house of government minister, Vital Kamerhe, and the Palais de la Nation, the official (but empty) residence of President Félix Tshisekedi. According to the army’s spokesperson, the alleged coup attempt had been led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese politician who had been living in the United States and who live streamed the attack on Facebook. Around 50 suspected coupists were arrested, including three American citizens. At least two security guards, one civilian and several attackers (including Malanga) were reported to have been killed. The small number of alleged coupists and their choice of targets raised widespread questions, including about their motives and the possible impact of the attacks on the DRC’s politics. Government investigations were ongoing at the end of May.
Sources: Jeune Afrique (1), Africa Confidential, The Economist, Associated Press News, Jeune Afrique (2), Council on Foreign Relations
April 2024
The DRC appoints first female Prime Minister
On 1 April, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President, Félix Tshisekedi, appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country’s first female prime minister. Tuluka is a member of Tshisekedi’s party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, and formerly served as the DRC’s planning minister. The appointment was hailed by the President’s office as reinforcing ‘the positive masculinity advocated by …Tshisekedi’ and was reported by the media as fulfilling his campaign promise to achieve greater gender equality. It comes four months after the country’s December general elections, which were marked by the underrepresentation of women among the candidates and saw just 61 women win seats in the National Assembly (approximately 13 per cent of the 477 elected members).
Sources: Jeune Afrique, The Africa Report, Reuters, Associated Press News, International IDEA, Inter-Parliamentary Union
March 2024
Democratic Republic of the Congo reinstates death penalty
In a circular dated 13 March, the Ministry of Justice revealed that in February the government had decided to lift the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) 21-year moratorium on the use of the death penalty. According to the circular, the decision was motivated by the need ‘to rid our country’s army of traitors…and to stem the resurgence of acts of terrorism and urban banditry.’ A date was not given for the implementation of the decision. The weaknesses of the DRC’s judicial system, recently acknowledged by President Tshisekedi, have given rise to fears amongst Congolese rights activists that the reinstatement of the death penalty will lead to summary executions. Jeune Afrique reported security sources who indicated that the ‘public execution of soldiers’ accused of collaborating with Rwanda and the M23 rebels operating in the east of the country were likely already being planned. Amnesty International called the government’s decision ‘a huge step backward’ and ‘even more alarming’ in the context of growing state repression.
Sources: Jurist, Jeune Afrique (1), Jeune Afrique (2), LUCHA, Amnesty International, The Africa Report
February 2024
Violence in east increases, as does international involvement
The level of violence in the long-running conflicts in the eastern states of the country increased considerably in the first two months of 2024. In February, the M23 rebel group advanced further towards the city of Goma, causing at least 135,000 people to flee, adding to the hundreds of thousands who have already been internally displaced. There were also credible reports that heavier weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles, rocket artillery, and armed drones, was being used in the conflict. Relations between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda also deteriorated, suggesting that a further intensification of the conflict is possible in the coming months.
Sources: Times LIVE, United Nations, Daily Monitor, News24, The Conversation
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GSoD Indices Data 2014-2023
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