Forum: Issue: Contemporary Security Council Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Student Officers: Yun Kei Chow, Ken Kim Introduction Since achieving independence in 1960, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been faced with multiple conflicts, from the First Congo War, to the Second that broke out only a year later, and multiple political movements by many political parties. Despite the fact that it is one of the highest populated countries in the world, and with the potential to expand much economically, DRC has been unsuccessful at utilizing its resources due to the continuous political instability. Definition of Key Terms Hutu An ethnic group living in Rwanda, Burundi, and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where they form one of the principal population divisions alongside the Tutsi and Twa Tutsi An ethnic group found in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. The continuous attacks inflicted on them in 1996 with the support of the Congolese government, led to the First Congo War. Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie (RCD) Former Rwandan Tutsi-led rebel militia group, and later political party created in 1998 National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) A political armed militia established by Laurent Nkunda in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in December 2006 United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Established by the UN Security Council in 1999 and 2000 through resolution 1279 and 1291, MONUSCO is a peacekeeping mission in DRC that was initially for observing and reporting on the peace process during the Second Congo War. Contemporary Security Council: Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Page 1 of 7
Background Information Congo Crisis The DRC gained independence from Belgium on the 30 th June 1960. Under the rule of the majority independence party, the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) rivaled against the Alliance Des Bakongo (ABAKO). The clash between these two parties in particular along with multiple others, and the rivalling Belgium rule led to continuous disability for the next few years. Finally, in 1965, under the approval of nation states worldwide, Joseph Mobutu seized power in a bloodless coup, and crushed all rebellious movements, unifying the nation which he renamed it Zaire. First Congo War Mobutu possessed control of the DRC until 1996. The infamous Rwandan Genocide of 1994 had established a Tutsi-led government in the neighboring country, displacing the Rwandan Hutu s, and causing them to flee and reside in refugee camps along Eastern Zaire. In alliance with Mobutu, they fled to Eastern Zaire, where they worked with Zairian military forces (FAZ) to launch military attacks on the resident Congolese Tutsis. The joint coalition of Rwandan and Ugandan troops to invade the DRC began the First Congo War. This partnership aimed to assist the Tutsi in the attacks against them, while hoping to overthrow the Mobutu government as to gain control over their economic industry. The coalition allied with the opposition party in the DRC to create the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of the Congo (AFDL), led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila. After continuous militia attacks, Mobutu fled Zaire in 1997 and Kabila took over as president, renaming the nation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). Second Congo War In 1998, only a year after the end of the First Congo War, the Rwandan Tutsi-led rebel militia movement, the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie (RCD) and Ugandan forces allied to create the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) to oust Kabila. To defend his rule, Kabila called in assistance from Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Angola, instigating a multi-nation war (Second Congo War) in Africa. In 2001, Kabila was assassinated and later succeeded by his son, Joseph Kabila who called upon UN assistance and multilateral peace talks, leading to the final end of the conflict in 2003. After the war, the DRC began implementing peaceful measures, creating stability in the area. Contemporary Security Council: Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Page 2 of 7
Continued Political Instability In attempts to institute a democratic nation, multi-party elections were held in July 2006. Disputes over election results led to conflicts in the capital between the supporters of the two candidates, Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bamba. The conflict was only resolved with the intervention of the UN peacekeeping operation MONUSCO, and Joseph Kabila was sworn in as president after the second round of elections. M23 Rebellion At the same time, a RCD branch created the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), instituting an armed rebellion versus the DR Congo government. In order to establish peace, the CNDP signed a peace treaty with the DR Congo, agreeing to stop its insurgency in return for the release of imprisoned militia. Yet in 2012, the leader of the CNDP, Bosco Ntaganda and other troops mutinied to begin the March 23 Movement, claiming the DR Congo violated the previously adopted peace treaty. It wasn t until in March 2013, when the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade, composed of forces from South Africa, Tanzania and Malwai intervened, and the armed groups were neutralized, ending M23 Insurgency on the 5 th November 2013. Current Political Issues In 2015, protests erupted after the lower house legislature passed a law that if also passed by the upper house, would allow Joseph Kabila, to stay in power until a national census was conducted. However, due to the political and economic instability in Congo, this census would take years to complete, keeping Kabila as president past his mandated two terms due to end in 2016. The bill was later passed but without the requirement of keeping Kabila in power until the conduction of a national census. However, Joseph s inability to publicly announce a date for elections has led to further political protests in the nation. He blames this on the M23 Rebellion which made it impossible to register voters and get organized in time for this year s election. His decree for the institution of a transitional government from his administrative rule to the next has also been met with criticism, as Kabila would still be the president of the interim administration. The political demonstrations around the DR Congo have become violent, with Congolese troops, killing hundreds of civilians. Contemporary Security Council: Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Page 3 of 7
Major Countries and Organizations Involved SMICMUN III: Unfulfilled Promises Background Guide United States of America (USA) Allying with Congo during the Cold War, the United States sought to prevent the utilization of DRC s minerals for Russian s weapons. Mobutu also sought to instigate relations with the United States to confirm his anti-communism policy in a continent of spreading Communist ideals. Currently, the US has been closely watching the ongoing conflicts within the DRC. Also, the US has threatened many times to institute sanctions against those attempting to harm the continuance of the democratic election processes in the DRC. United Nations (UN) In 1999 and 2000, the United Nations Security Council approved the creation of the MONUSCO through resolutions 1279 and 1291. The UN Peacekeeping mission s mandate was to protect citizens and reconstruct damaged buildings. This peacekeeping force is currently one of the largest operations in the world with about 8.74 million USD spent in the DRC; it played a key role in ensuring stability within the DR Congo, as mentioned in the past pages. Timeline of Events Date October 24, 1996 May 16, 1997 August 2, 1998 July 18, 2003 April 4, 2012 November 7, 2013 February 24, 2013 November 20, 2006 December 2011 Description of event First Congo War Second Congo War M23 Rebellion Peace deal in which countries agreed not to interfere in DR Congo, signed by 11 members (including DR Congo) Kabila wins first presidential term through democratic elections Kabila wins second presidential term through democratic elections Relevant UN Treaties and Events The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo, 30 November 1999 (S/RES/1279) The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo, 24 February 2000 (S/RES/1291) Contemporary Security Council: Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Page 4 of 7
The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo, 28 July 2003 (S/RES/1493) UN Peace deal signed by eleven African member states to stabilize DR Congo The situation concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo, 25 April 2006 (S/RES/1671) Previous Attempts to solve the Issue On the 24 th February, 2013, eleven African countries signed a UN peace deal to ensure stabilization in the DRC. With multiple coups in the years since independence, there has been persistent suspicion of rebel groups supported by neighbouring African countries seeking to exploit the political instability in the DRC for their own economic purposes. Those who signed the peace deal directly agreed to not intervene into Congo affairs, and refrain from assisting or permitting any group in the area that might contribute in further destabilizing the DRC. Allowing MONUSCO to focus on the civil conflict within the nation, the peace deal was signed by most of the DRC s neighbours including Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Angola, Uganda, South Sudan, South Africa, Congo and Tanzania. Possible Solutions One basic solution would be for all nations to sign and abide to the United Nations Framework of 2013, especially for the bordering countries of the DRC have not done so before, such as Cameroon and Zambia. This can be an extremely important means to provide an immense assistance for the stabilization of the DRC, because it would decrease the number of insurgency groups interfering in the area. Consequently, it would help in halting these groups from entering the DRC through neighbouring countries as well as ensuring MONUC to direct their support on the internal instability within the DRC. As the conflict continues, there have not been many attempts between insurgency groups to establish peace. However, the past peace treaties have not been enforced at the same time, which is evident through the M23 Rebellion. Nations should highly encourage the DRC to begin establishing peace among the insurgent groups and rival nations for stabilization. The presence of the MONUC in all areas of the DRC to enforce the peace treaties would also be greatly beneficial. Recently, protests have arisen due to President Kabila s failure to announce the date for the new presidential elections; these protests have been leading to numerous civilian casualties as well. A key solution to alleviate conflicts and hostilities between civilians and the government can be a guarantee for the civilians that equal democratic presidential elections will soon be held in the DRC. Voting procedures should be monitored in accordance MONUC, as to prevent claims of corruption and blockage of those wishing to vote like the claims made in the 2006 and 2011 presidential elections that also led to societal divisions. Contemporary Security Council: Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo Page 5 of 7
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