In partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa and the DRC Community Chapter, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) conducted a Topical Outreach Program Series (TOPS) symposium and chapter meetings from September 3-4, 2013, on the topic of Security Sector Reform (SSR).

The DRC Chapter was created in 2008 and counts amongst its members distinguished representatives of the government, the military, the civil service, and the civilian society. The DRC Chapter chose SSR – with an emphasis on resource management in SSR — as the theme for the symposium due to current challenges faced by the DRC and the global financial crisis.

More than 120 people representing all facets of society in the DRC participated in the symposium, which was comprised of three sessions: what SSR is and isn’t; resource management within the context of SSR; and U.S. Government assistance for SSR and resource management in the DRC. Guest speakers included Colonel Birame Diop, Senegalese Air Force officer and SSR specialist; Mr. Francis Somda, SSR Unit Chief for MONUSCO (Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en RD Congo, or the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo); Mr. Jeff Miller, Africa Regional Manager for the Defense Institution Reform Initiative (DIRI), and Mr. Bill Chadwick, lecturer at the US Naval Postgraduate School and representative of the International Defense Acquisition Resource Management Program (IDARM).

The topics generated direct and lively discussion amongst the participants. Topics of debate included government transparency and political will, accountability to donor states and organizations, effective communications with the population, integration of women into security structures and organizations, and implication of the civil society in SSR.

“The presence of a significant number of participants from civil society and academia contributed greatly to the depth of the discussions,” said Mary McGurn, the ACSS community affairs specialist who organized the symposium. The discussions took place under the Africa Center’s strict rule of non-attribution to promote candid dialogue. The Community Chapter captured the essence of the discussions and, in closing, provided a summary of approximately one dozen specific recommendations for SSR in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chapter members said their intent is to develop these recommendations into a “White Paper” that will be circulated within the government.