PrintCongo, Democratic Republic of
Latest from USIP on Congo, Democratic Republic of
- March 18, 2010 | Event
This workshop aims to inform members of the Democratic Republic of Congo diaspora and other stakeholders of ongoing development assistance programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), provide a forum for a frank exchange of ideas and identify avenues for more effective diaspora involvement in peacebuilding.
- December 9, 2009 | Resource
USIP summarizes ways the Congolese diaspora can help resolve the long-running conflict in the DRC, and their recommendations to improve conditions in the country.
- November 4, 2009 | Resource
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has enormous economic potential thanks to its rich mineral deposits and vast tracts of arable land. Historically, these resources have been exploited by predatory leaders and a host of subregional actors. The time is now ripe for the DRC to put years of war and economic underdevelopment behind it.
- December 1, 2008 | Resource
This USIPeace Briefing discusses the resurgent violence that left hundreds dead, thousands displaced and millions destitute in North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report, by Go Funai and Catherine Morris, highlights the meaning of "human security" in a chronic conflict zone, informal lending mechanisms among local ethnically homogenous communities and the role of neighboring African states in contributing to conflict and stability in the DRC.
The Current Situation
Part of the turmoil-ridden Great Lakes Region, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen its fair share of confilct over the past 15 years.
Since August of 2008, the Northeast of the Congo has been plagued by a spike in lingering violence from the five-year Second Congo War (1998–2003). Clashes between a myriad of rebel groups, most notably the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and the Congolese and Rwandan armies have resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe. Over a million civilians have thus far been displaced from their homes and scores have been killed. Aid efforts have been disrupted and homes and critical infrastructure have been destroyed. Violent rape and torture are systematically being used as weapons.
Sub-regional ethnic and political struggles and illicit mining and trading of valuable natural resources lie at the heart of the violence. Weak government infrastructure, a lack of government capacity and chronic corruption continue to impede solutions and fuel the conflict.
Going Forward: USIP Goals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Facilitate conflict management by working with others to develop a set of recommendations that could delink the mining industry from violence and the war economy;
- Analyze the multifaceted drivers and effects of conflict (including poverty, gender, ethnicity, regional instability and illicit mining);
- Explore innovative approaches that would improve the effectiveness of foreign assistance in the DRC;
- Identify the key causes of weak governance and corruption and provide viable recommendations for lasting peace and human security.
USIP Projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- DRC Diaspora Dialogue: A series of meetings geared towards energizing members of the diaspora to contribute more effectively to conflict management and peace promotion in the DRC. Particular areas of emphasis include anti-corruption, economic development, governance and private sector development.
- Anti-Corruption Strategy for Extractive Industries in the DRC: A project, in collaboration with the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship, to facilitate the development and implementation of anti-corruption standards in the DRC’s mining sector.