NAMUNC V

UN Peacebuilding Commission Guide:
The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Brief History

The Congo has faced ongoing violent conflict for over a century.  In 1908, Belgium annexed this African region as a colony.  The natives gained their independence from Belgium in 1960, forming the Republic of the Congo, but the sweetness of this victory  immediately soured.  Amidst political and social chaos, Col. Joseph Mobutu seized power in a 1965 coup.  He proclaimed himself president, changing the name of the country to Zaire and his own to Mobutu Sese Seko.  For thirty-two years, Mobutu held on to the presidency through sham elections and brutal force.  Ethnic strife and civil conflict, stimulated by the large influx of refugees from war torn Rwanda and Burundi in 1994, plagued Zaire as a result of Morbutu’s rule.  Ultimately this fighting led to the overthrow of the Morbutu regime in May 1997.  His overthrow was backed by Uganda and Rwanda. 

Laurent Kabila, the front man of the 1997 rebellion, renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); however, his grand gestures could not strengthen the fragile position his state endured.  In August 1998, Rwanda and Uganda intervened again, instigating a rebellion that threatened Kabila’s power.  Soldiers from Angola, Chad, Nambia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened on Kabila’s behalf.  A ceasefire was signed in 1999 between the DRC, Congolese armed rebel factions, Angola, Nambia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, yet sporadic violence still persisted.  Laurent Kabila was assassinated in January 2001.  His son Joseph assumed command.  Six years ago this relatively new head-of-state successfully negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the eastern Congo.  Two months later, all dissenting parties signed the Pretoria Accord that ended the fighting and established a unified country. 

In 2003, a transitional government was put in place with Joseph Kabila as the President and four vice presidents (representing the former administration, former rebel groups, political opposition, and the civil population).  This temporary government held a valuable constitutional referendum in December 2005, and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006.  Vital Kamershe was chosen to be the President in December 2006.  The Democratic Republic of Congo selected their governors and national senators in January 2007. 

Effects of War

Between 1998 -2003, 3.5 million people died as a result of the conflict mostly through disease and starvation.  The Crisis Group, a think-tank based in Brussels, reported that 1,000 people were dying daily two years after the official end of the conflict on account of disease, hunger, and violence.  Thus some argue that situation has not really improved.  Kinesasha has no control over large parts of the country while tension remains high in the East.  To make matters worse, the economy has suffered dramatically since 1998.  Foreign business curtailed trade due to the political instability, lack of infrastructure, and hazardous environment.  The DRC did not produce significantly during this five year war thus hampering internal revenue as well as increasing external debt.  In 2002, the DRC’s trade market began to take a positive turn.  International donors and corporations have made contact with the DRC, and reforms slowly have changed financial conditions.  Unfortunately, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut off assistance.  Corruption, shaky legal framework, and lack of transparency seem to be long term issues that will plague the DRC. 

The leaders of the Great Lakes States and the UN pledge to abate the tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the Northeast corner of the county.  The UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo maintained over 18,000 uniformed peacekeepers in the region in 2006, fist deployed in 1999.  Despite a substantial effort of the international community, Angolans, Rwandans, Sudanese, and those from neighboring countries reside in the DRC as refugees.  Past problems with problems with Ugandan rebel forces particularly the Lord’s Resistance Army, has made the situation difficult to resolve. 

Current Issues

The media continues to face arrest, threats, and violence, especially reporters who expose corruption.  Nevertheless, the situation has vastly ameliorated.  There are dozens of private TV channels, more than 100 radio stations, and several newspapers.  The press is supposedly able to criticize the administration, yet some of these publications just serve as mouthpieces for the opposition. 

There are some real crises that the DRC must resolve such as rampant human rights violations like arbitrary arrest and detention of the political opposition, use of torture, and the lack of accountability for war crimes during the war.  On February 7, 2008, the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrested Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, the former chief of staff of the Front for National Integration, an ethnic Lendu-based militia group that committed atrocities in the Ituri district of northeastern Congo.  His arrest not only brings hope to the victims but also shows that justice will be served to even those who seem untouchable due to their official ranks. 

It is important to note that, regardless of treaties, conflict continues.  Outbursts of rape, loot, destruction, abduction of civilians, and armed violence are widespread and the government does little to suppress these flare-ups. 

Some Useful Sources to Begin Your Research:

CIA World Fact Book- general country information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/