History And Impact Of Ethnic Conflicts In The DRC.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recognizes the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the second most ethnically diverse country in the world, with at least 200 distinct ethnic groups living in the country (Karbo & Mutisi, 2012). Understanding the DRC’s economic and demographic situation is vital to explain the country’s late 19th and early 20th century wave of conflict. The purpose of the essay is to explore the history and impact of ethnic conflicts in the DRC.
After Congo’s independence on 30 June 1960, the country was renamed Democratic Republic of Congo. Civil unrest and rebellion caused by tribal leaders holding far more powers than Joseph Kasavubu and Patrice’s central government. Looting, which dominates DRC’s conflicts, first occurred in 1960 during a military mutiny between Congolese soldiers and European officers. The First Congo War occurred between 1996 and 1997, having been sparked by a spillover of Rwanda’s Hutu and Tutsi conflict into the eastern Zaire (Nangongolo, 2007). The eruption of Tutsi militias that rebelled against Mobutu eventually expanded leading to the formation of Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), which was led by Laurent-Desire Kabila (Quinn, 2004). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.). After Mobutu exiled himself, Kabila forced himself president and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Congo on 20 May 1997.
The Second Congo War occurred between 1998 and 2003, and was led by Jean-Pierre Bemba, a Congolese warlord, through a rebel movement known as Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC). After Kabila’s assassination, his son Joseph Kabila succeeded him. Peace talks led to apparent end of war and withdraw of foreign troops. More violence and unrest during the Kabila’s presidency resulted from his overstaying in power, especially in 2011, 2015, and 2016. Continued conflicts in Congo is due to eruption of almost 120 armed groups apparently supported by neighboring governments seeking to benefit from the mineral wealth in Eastern Congo (Hermenau et al., 2013).
Weak governance, proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) summarizes some of the driving forces of conflict in DRC. Consequently, political mobilization, marginalization, as well as economic and social exclusion account for the problem that ails the country (Nest et al., 2006). The presence of pro-government armed groups and rebel, peacekeeping forces, ungoverned spaces, IDP camps, and humanitarian agencies is evidence of instability in country. These are the root causes and the social and developmental impact of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Open dialogue is a key tool used by actors of peacebuilding actors in DRC. The United States is consistently on the fore front in advocating for open talks, but the peace deals fail because they do not address the complex challenges associated with the driving forces of the DRC conflicts (Dzinesa & Laker, 2010). Despite many peacebuilding agreements failing, they resulted in meaningful resolutions that led to stronger institutions such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Lemarchand, 2007). Some of the agreements by the peacebuilders led to freezing the distinct zones of influence which the wide range patrons and their rebel factions controlled (Carayannis, 2009). At the end, it is the strengthening of governance that is slowly ending the ethnic conflict.
Addressing the root causes of ethnic conflicts is the primary conflict resolution strategy. The strategy is effective in ending the existing instability and prevents emergence of new conflict cycles in DRC (Barrera, 2015). Rebuilding the economy, addressing psychological and social aspects associated with the perennial conflict DRC; building strong government institutions; designing, adopting, and implementing a sustainable peace building agenda (Eriksen, 2009). Further, improving donor engagement is one of the most effective strategies of maximizing aid effectiveness with regards to economic development and peace consolidation. Strengthening regional integration is the antidote for politics of exclusion in the country and the foundation of reforming the country’s security sector.
In conclusion, the historical ethnic conflict in DRC Congo started as soon as the nation gained independence. The essay identifies the problem in Congo to be political exclusion, marginalization, and interest in mineral and natural resources in the Eastern Congo. Social and developmental impact is the death, displacement of people from their homes, and loss of property. The ethnic conflict caused the country to lag behind in economic development, and misuse of immense resources in conflict resolution agreements. The ultimate peace resolution so far is achieving a peaceful transition of power between Joseph Kabila to Félix Tshisekedi and increased open-minded peacebuilding initiative within the country and by the international community.