Watershed moment for the DRC: Ivan Lewis MP in conversation with Cllr Jean-Roger Kaseki about the situation in the DRC and its future prospects – Ivan Lewis MP Shadow Secretary of State for International Development – Cllr Jean-Roger Kaseki, Islington Labour Councillor- Human Rights & Social Justice Research Institute Associate at London Metropilitan University – « Congolese for Labour » Chair Following his recent visit to Goma and Kinshasa, Ivan Lewis MP Shadow Secretary of State for International Development met on Friday 19th April with the Congolese Diaspora in the UK led by Cllr Jean-Roger Kaseki who is Chair of Congolese for Labour, an afiliated organisation to the Labour Party.

The following issues were discussed: The DRC’s political situation and the last elections- Amendment of DRC’s constitution- Gender based violence – Government collapse – the UN and MONUSCO – The DRC’s opposition – Security sector reform (national army and national police force) – Rwanda’s involvement – Bilateral relations between the DRC and the UK (prospect for DRC joining the Commonwealth) – The role of the Congolese diaspora in the UK – Disarmament of militias (Recent UN Security Council Resolution authorizing an offensive mission with a combat brigade of 4000 soldiers to neutralize, disarm and disband all militias) – Tackling illegal exploitation of minerals fuelling conflict – Democratization and decentralization of power from central government to the regions (local elections)