In the context of defending democracy, the US-led Summit for Democracy (S4D) presents at least two excellent opportunities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first is to rally democracy advocates and civil society actors, and the second is to inspire a new DRC administration that has yet to master the kleptocracy system.
The DRC’s commitments at the S4D indicated that the country needs to build a democratic system, particularly consolidating democratic norms and institutions. Three of the five written commitments submitted by the DRC government address the country’s pressing needs in defending democracy and are crucial for building basic democratic norms. However, the DRC’s commitments do not address the vital issues of open government, such as civic participation, fiscal openness, and access to information, which are essential for strengthening democracy.
