The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Sustainable Peace Building in the Democratic Republic of Congo A Case Study of Lubumbashi City

Abstract

This study sought to explore the role of civil society in promoting sustainable peace building in Lubumbashi city. Political instability is still going on in DRC, particularly in Lubumbashi city. The study employed qualitative, research design using a case study, approach sampling method. The key findings of this study reflect that civil society workers were promoting peace education, democratization, human rights, and peace negotiation. In addition, civil society played an important role to reduce conflict, increased the number of voters in the 2006 and 2011 elections. However, civil society faced some challenges in promoting sustainable peace building in Lubumbashi city: including lack of financial support, lack of team work within civil society organizations and lack of common agenda between the state and civil society. Furthermore, donors dictated civil society workers programmes which they wanted to fund. Poor leadership management and lack of communication of civil society activities to the public was another challenge. As such, the recommendation of this study is that the state should work together with civil society to bring peace, sponsor civil society’s programs and create platforms where the state and civil society share ideas in order to promote sustainable peace building.