Prospects for peace in DR Congo

The DR Congo army were aided by UN troops drawn largely from Southern African Development Community (SADC) to dislodge the rebels from their stronghold in Goma and from large parts in the country’s eastern province. If this consolidated, it may herald the tranquillity needed in the DR Congo- a country that has known no real […]

The DR Congo army were aided by UN troops drawn largely from Southern African Development Community (SADC) to dislodge the rebels from their stronghold in Goma and from large parts in the country’s eastern province. If this consolidated, it may herald the tranquillity needed in the DR Congo- a country that has known no real peace since its creation some 53 years ago, and allow it to harness its vast natural resources to build prosperity.
Events leading to subduing the M23 were conceived by the UN Security Council which decided in March to send reinforcement to bolster its own peacekeeping troops already stationed in the eastern province, principally” to carry out targeted offensive operations…in a robust, highly mobile and versatile manner… with the responsibility of neutralising armed groups.” The intervention force, made up of 3000 soldiers drawn from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi, and backed by helicopters and armoured vehicles, served as the backbone for the weak Congolese army.
Armed militias frequently spring up to challenge the authority of the central government, and sending the country into spasms of instability and chaos.
The current turn of events may well fall into the same pattern because it is anybody’s guess how long it would take before a new group emerges from the woodwork to undermine it. This point is apposite because before the M23 emerged, it used to be the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) under the leadership of Laurent Nkunda that held sway in the east.
The continuous reign of terror unleashed by successive armed groups has caused massive displacement of people.  It is estimated that 45,000 die monthly, many of whom are children, as a result of hunger, preventable diseases and rape. Indeed women and girls have borne the brunt of the brutality of the armed groups who wantonly and routinely rape them and this has caused breakdown of both family and community life in eastern Congo.
One reason why armed militias constantly emerge in eastern Congo is the inability of the government to take control of the whole of its territory, provide basic services as well as protect its citizens. Thus, the probable defeat of the M23 should be the first step in strengthening the central government to assert its authority and take full control over the eastern and other vulnerable parts of the country. To achieve this, the Congolese military would have to be rebuilt to become disciplined, professional and most importantly instilled with the mindset to always protect the wellbeing of the Congo nation.  This is the crucial assignment the UN troops from the SADC must undertake before they return home, because on it the territorial integrity of DR Congo depends.
 DR. Congo is a democracy, after Kabila legitimised his rule when he succeeded his father through election in December, 2006, and again in 2011 when he was re-elected for a second term in a general election. As long as periodic elections are assured, those seeking power would have to pursue their aim through the ballot box, which would remove an important source of conflict. A strong and responsible government should be able to maintain peace and protect its people throughout the country and the stability so established should serve as spur for foreign investment and economic prosperity.
 The M23 may seek immediate relevance in the scheme of affairs of the country to cover up its defeat and is now asking for a truce. The government’s reluctance to sign a peace deal is borne out of previous experience. Such a deal may come to haunt it because the country’s armed groups are notorious for their unreliability. Whatever agreement is eventually agreed on should be made under the aegis of the SADC which can be relied upon to protect the interests of DR Congo, rather than its neighbours that have for long been accused of playing ignoble roles in aiding rebel groups to distract the DR Congo government and illegally tap the country’s vast mineral resources .