Accession Number:

AD1039540

Title:

Democratic Republic of Congo A Fertile Ground for Instability in the Great Lakes Region States

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

US Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth United States

Personal Author(s):

• Sithole,Emmanuel

Report Date:

2017-06-09

Pagination or Media Count:

76.0

Abstract:

The armed conflict in the DRC has been in existence for the past twenty years. This situation has caused instability and chaos in the eastern provinces of the Congo, known as the Great Lakes Region. The DRC holds a strategic geographical position and is endowed with lucrative natural resources. In a bid to restore peace and stability, UN forces have been in the DRC for the past eighteen years. Initially, the UN mission was named the United Nation Missions in the Congo. Subsequently, this name changed to United Nation Stabilization Mission in the Congo, and in 2012, the UN introduced the Force Intervention Brigade. This was in response to occurrences on the ground. Despite the combined efforts of the UN and the Congolese government, non-state actors are perpetrating instability and chaos in the Great Lakes Region. These are insurgent groups from neighboring countries Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. These non-state actors have their own interests and goals namely, wrestling sovereignty away from the current government and taking control of the natural resources. The findings of this paper suggests that a lasting solution can only be realized through the synergistic efforts of the UN, the Congolese government, the other and the governments in the region.

Descriptors:

• political systems
• insurgency
• national governments
• civil war
• united nations
• case studies
• agreements
• culture (social sciences)
• violence
• military forces (foreign)

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE