The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the persistance of the crisis in the Kivus
Date
2014-02-18
Authors
Mumwi, Simon Marco
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Abstract
This study sets out to examine the causes for the continued conflicts in the Kivu particularly after
the establishment of a transitional government in the DRC in 2004 and the elections in 2006.
Three factors appear to account for the continued conflicts. First is the ethnic divide between the
local population and the Kinyarwanda speakers that have settled in the region overtime. This
conflict is mostly centered on the land issues which were not addressed in the final agreements
for the establishment of the transitional government in Kinshasa, at Sun City in 2002. It should
not be surprising that this sparked new fighting in 2006 after the elections. Second is the
continued existence of a central power vacuum. This is mainly because the national army is
neither strong nor disciplined enough to establish its hegemony in the area. Its task was made
more difficult by the continued Rwandan interests in the area, which went beyond security
concerns. Thus the Nkunda rebellion was only successful because of Rwandan support. Third is
the continuation of the war economy centered on the exploitation of natural resources that are
abundant in the area. This has helped to fund the war in the Kivus, and as long as there are
profits to be made from natural resources exploitation, conflicts and violence in the area will
continue.
The conclusion from this study is that peace in the Kivus needs the establishment of a central
administration with both military power to secure the area, in particular the mining areas and
judicial authority to prosecute the warlords and armed groups that continue to benefit from the
continuation of conflicts and violence in the area.
Description
Thesis (M.M. (Security))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2012.
Keywords
Politics and government, Violence, Democratic Republic of Congo