Professor of political science at the University of Liège and Director of the ULg’s Political Support Unit for Central Africa (CAPAC), Bob Kabamba was born in Bukavu. After having picked up a degree, at the University of Liège in 1992, in political sciences and public administration, he continued with a doctorate in political sciences, which ended with the defence of a thesis devoted to ‘Inter-regionality in the African Great Lakes countries.’ First of all an assistant researcher in political sciences and public administration (at the ULg’s General and Regional Political Science Unit), then assistant lecturer, he today holds concurrently the posts of lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the ULg and guest professor at the Butembo Catholic University in the RDC. As for his research areas, they are today organised around four main axes: comparative studies (concept of the state, ‘weak’ states, process of democratisation, developmental policies, regional integration, federalism, diasporas), the prevention of and conflict management, the electoral systems and the processes of decentralisation of states in transition or in post-conflict situations and, finally, international relations in Africa and the Africa of the Great Lakes. On the strength of his skills and posts, Bob Kabamba has also increased his missions as an expert to the benefit of Belgian and international organisations, such as Belgian Technological Cooperation and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the International Criminal Court, UNDP (United Nations Programme for Development), etc. As a researcher, teacher, or expert, this father of three children has also produced many publications and was awarded the ‘African Award 2005’, granted to an African living in Belgium who has been distinguished in a particular field, in his case support for the processes of peace consolidation in the Democratic republic of Congo.

Selection of publications

Zacharie A., Kabamba B., La reconstruction congolaise, Luc Pire, Bruxelles, 2009.

Kabamba B., Intégration régionale dans l’Afrique des Grands Lacs : Mythes et réalités, Bruxelles, Editions Luc Pire, 2008.

Kabamba B., La Dynamique de l’Afrique des Grands Lacs , Paris, L’Harmattan, 2008.

Kabamba B., "Guerres au Congo (1996-1999), acteurs et scénarios", in Guerres et violences dans la région des Grands Lacs, sous la direction de Paul Mathieu et Jean-Claude Willame, Les cahiers du CEDAF-L'Harmattan, Paris-Bruxelles, 2000, pp. 99-159.

Kabamba B., "Les enjeux politiques des réfugiés hutus rwandais en 1994 au Zaïre", in André Guichaoua (dir.), Les crises politiques au Rwanda et Burundi 1993-1994, Paris, Karthala, 1995, pp. 349 et s.

Kabamba B., République démocratique du Congo. Le système politique de la troisième république. Genèse d'une démocratisation attendue, In collaboration with Pierre Verjans. Revue de la Faculté de droit de l’Université de Liège, Larcier, 2006/4, pp 561- 582