New Strategy for Peace Enforcement: the Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo

With the introduction of MONUSCOs Force Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, the United Nations UN, for the first time in its history, began unilateral targeted offensive operations. The purpose of this study is to examine how the intervention brigade, with its extended authorities, contributes to the UNs strategic objectives for stability in the DRC. This paper examines the intervention brigade through the lens of strategy using Lykkes model of ends, ways, means, and risk. According to Lykke, a successful strategy mitigates risk by balancing ends, ways, and means. The study concludes that the intervention brigade represents an imbalance of ends, ways, and means in MONUSCOs strategy. According to Lykkes model, the intervention brigade is a suitable strategy, but it is not feasible and may not be acceptable. The brigades ends align with MONUSCOs, but its resources are insufficient and its methods may be counterproductive to MONUSCOs objectives. Further research is necessary to determine if MONUSCO can reduce risk by rebalancing its strategy or by separating the intervention brigades offensive mission from MONUSCOs defensive one.