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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on the Political Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Original title: RESOLVING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

January 1, 2018

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic efforts to address the political transition in the DRC, which impacts international stability and U.S. humanitarian and diplomatic engagement in the region.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Democratic Republic of the Congo citizens

The political crisis and delayed elections impact the governance and stability of their country.

U.S. Department of State

The agency is responsible for managing U.S. diplomatic relations and policy regarding the DRC crisis.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2017 House hearing regarding the political instability and delayed elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Lawmakers and expert witnesses discussed the failure of the DRC government to hold scheduled elections and the resulting constitutional crisis.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on November 9, 2017, by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
  • The DRC was required to conduct elections by December 2016 to facilitate a transition of political power.
  • The DRC government failed to hold the scheduled elections, leading to a political crisis.
  • The hearing addressed the constitutional provision allowing President Joseph Kabila to remain in power beyond his term.
  • Witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of State, USAID, Johns Hopkins University, La Lutte pour le Changement, Barnard College, and Human Rights Watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was this hearing held?
The hearing was held to address the political crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo caused by the failure of the government to hold scheduled elections.
Who testified at the hearing?
Witnesses included officials from the U.S. State Department and USAID, as well as academic experts and representatives from human rights organizations.

Why It Matters

The hearing examines U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic efforts to address the political transition in the DRC, which impacts international stability and U.S. humanitarian and diplomatic engagement in the region.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on DRC Election Delays

The hearing highlights a specific U.S. legislative focus on the failure of the DRC to meet its 2016 election deadline.

Connected Entities

personDonald YamamotoActing Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of StateMap →
personChristopher H. SmithChairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and Map →
locationDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe country experiencing the political crisisMap →
personJoseph KabilaPresident of the Democratic Republic of the CongoMap →
personIda SawyerCentral Africa director, Human Rights WatchMap →
personCheryl AndersonActing Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for InternationalMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy50
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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