Envisioning Congo's Future: A Conversation with Martin Fayulu
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is struggling to address a series of political, public health, and security challenges. President Felix Tshisekedi, following a contentious and disputed election, has failed to appoint a cabinet and counter accusations that he is under the thumb of his predecessor Joseph Kabila. The DRC government and its international partners have made insufficient headway to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak. In addition, the country continues to experience bouts of political unrest and conflict between rivals militia groups. These recent and enduring crises have cast a shadow over the first peaceful transition between one leader to another in the DRC's history.
The CSIS Africa Program invites you to a conversation with former presidential candidate Mr. Martin Fayulu on Monday, April 1, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. to hear Mr. Fayulu’s vision for Congo's future. Martin Fayulu will share his perspective on the elections and present policy recommendations to address the DRC's political, economic, and security challenges, as well as the Ebola outbreak.
Martin Fayulu is a Congolese politician and President of the ECiDé (Engagement pour la Citoyenneté et le Développement) political party, as well as the coordinator of the political coalition Dynamique de l’Opposition. Fayulu spent 20 years working for ExxonMobil in Africa, France, and the United States as managing director. He served as provincial MP from 2006-2011 and as national MP from 2011-2018, championing integrity and democracy. Fayulu also initiated a grassroots campaign to raise awareness about the importance of presidential term limits outlined in Congo's constitution. During Congo’s 2018 presidential election, Fayulu was the Lamuka coalition's joint opposition presidential candidate. Although his opponent Félix Tshisekedi was ultimately installed as president, Fayulu’s bid for the presidency received widespread popular support and was accredited as the winner by various observer missions.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.