The Democratic Republic of Congo is often described as a "forgotten crisis." For decades, attention on Congo has come and gone, while humanitarian suffering, refugee flows, war, and sexual violence continue.
In January this year, Congo again made the news, this time because the M23 militia took control of the two largest provinces in the east, North and South Kivu. In recent months, Trump has also become involved in the conflict, and a peace agreement has been signed—but implementation is challenging.
This is not the only conflict causing suffering in Congo, and most others go under the radar.
What are these conflicts about? Why is it so difficult to achieve peace? How can we still make it happen?
Ingebjørg Finnbakk has for several years worked with dialogue and peace initiatives in Congo. She works at NOREF Centre for International Conflict Resolution and has several years of field experience in Congo, including with the UN operation MONUSCO from 2016–2019. She has daily contact with Congolese people and others who experience these conflicts up close. In this lecture, Finnbakk will, based on her experience from the country, reflect on these questions.
Cinema Hall 1