Peace Agreements and Power Politics: The DRC’s Next Chapter

Despite repeated peace initiatives, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains trapped in cycles of violence and instability. Regional rivalries, resource competition, and fragile governance continue to undermine efforts at lasting peace. This panel brings together experts and civil society representatives to examine why peace processes have faltered, what drives the ongoing conflict, and how international actors can help chart a new path forward.

Questions:

1. Why have recent peace processes in the DRC (such as the US-Qatar mediation) failed, and what lessons can be drawn for future negotiations?

2. How do political and economic interests - both local and regional - shape the prospects for peace in the DRC?

3. What concrete steps can Europe take to support more effective, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding in the DRC?

Speakers:

• Ciaran Wrons-Passmann, Managing Director of Ökumenische Netz Zentralafrika (ÖNZ) e.V.

• Sarah N'Sabaka (FreeCongo Kollektiv)

• Kennedy Wema, PhD Student at the Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin (BNITM)

Moderator:

Nicholas Opolot Akwang is a lawyer and management professional with over six years' experience in the development cooperation, government, legal and technology sectors. He is currently a KAS EIZ Scholar pursuing an MBA in Berlin.

Registration: This discussion event is open to the public. To participate on-site at the GIGA Berlin office, please register with the organiser, Cédric Mbavu ([email protected]).

This event takes place as part of the closed-door workshop:

Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Effects, possible solutions and the role of the Federal Republic of Germany

18.02.2026 - 20.02.2026 | GIGA Berlin Office

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been ravaged by violent conflicts for nearly three decades, during which numerous crimes have been committed and millions of people been affected. This conflict is partly based on ethnic tensions, but mainly due to illegal exploitation of the country's natural resources, from which its neighbours benefit.

As part of the seminar organised by KAS scholarship holders, with support of the GIGA, experts on this conflict will reflect on the causes and current developments. They will also explore pathways to end the violences.

Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau, German Institute for Global and Area Studies

• Dr. Daniel E.D. Müller, Ruhr-Universität Bochum

• Dr. Jason Stearns, Congo Research Group & Ebuteli Institute DRC

• Dominic Johnson, TAZ

• Ambassador Louise Nzanga Ramazani, DRC Embassy Berlin

• Prof. Dr. Martin Gassebner, Leibniz Universität Hannover

• Kennedy Muhindo Wema, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)

• Dr. Sung Joon Park, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)

• Verena Märker, Universität Jena

Moderator:

Cédric Mbavu, BNITM and University of Hamburg, PhD candidate (health economics) and KAS scholarship holder