Fatshimetrie, a key event for democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Fatshimetrie recently hosted a conference of major importance, highlighting Switzerland’s experiences in direct democracy. The Swiss Ambassador to the DRC, Chasper Sarott, shared with the provincial deputies of Kinshasa the lessons of his country in governance and democratic emancipation. This initiative, orchestrated by the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa, opened the doors to a deep reflection on the future of Congolese institutions.
At the heart of this meeting, Ambassador Sarott highlighted the similarities between Switzerland and the DRC, particularly with regard to linguistic diversity and territorial distribution. With its 26 cantons, Switzerland echoes the 26 provinces of the DRC, thus establishing a symbolic bridge between two nations with distinct but complementary political realities.
The discussions between the Swiss and Congolese representatives also provided an opportunity to address crucial themes such as direct democracy, federalism and decentralization. These enlightening discussions offered participants the opportunity to enrich their understanding of the respective political systems and to consider avenues for future collaboration.
The presentation of symbolic gifts to the Swiss ambassador marked a highlight of this meeting. Through a book retracing the history of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa and a map of the DRC, the provincial deputies expressed their desire to strengthen ties between the two countries and to work together for the advent of democratic and decentralized governance.
In conclusion, Fatshimetrie brilliantly orchestrated this morning of fruitful exchanges, offering Congolese political actors a new perspective on contemporary democratic issues. Swiss expertise in governance has opened up promising horizons for strengthened collaboration between Switzerland and the DRC, thus laying the foundations for a dynamic and inclusive democracy.