The deadly toll of the M23’s military escalation has presented an urgent call for international attention and support, including consideration of punitive measures against armed groups that attack civilians and peacekeepers. It also forced SADC member states to make a choice: showcase their commitment to regional conflict management under the SADC Mutual Defence Pact by reinforcing SAMIDRC or withdraw the mission. Their choice for withdrawal reflected waning political support for the mission, particularly among the three troop-contributing countries (TCCs), as the operating environment turned more hostile and the mission failed to show results.
Tag: democratic republic of the congo
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In this interview with Albert Trithart, Pascal Kambale, a Congolese researcher and human rights lawyer based in Goma, helps unpack the complex array of security actors present in the eastern DRC and how they are perceived by local Congolese.
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As steps to wind down the mission begin, it is important to assess the impact of MONUSCO’s various activities.
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The mission maintains its two priorities: addressing the tense political and electoral situation, and protection of civilians. It will face serious challenges on both fronts.
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With little faith in the DRC’s democratic process, Western donors are loath to fund activities around an election scheduled for some time this year, which the government estimates will cost around $1.8 billion.
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With DRC President Kabila becoming increasingly emboldened in his actions to extend his political longevity, it would be difficult to believe that travel and financial embargoes alone will sway the incumbent from delivering the coup de grace to his country’s hopes of achieving a democratic transfer of power in the near-term.
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The challenge in financing negotiations is to find a balance between national political priorities and the operational imperatives in peacekeeping missions, given the mandates set by the Security Council and the strategic realities facing the missions.
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Signs point to a higher level of speed, coordination, and engagement than occurred during the initial stages of the West Africa response in 2014
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While delays would undoubtedly serves the president’s interests, forging ahead with the November poll could ultimately be more destabilizing without some larger resolution.
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Kabila’s strategy has taken a number of active and passive forms. On the latter front, no concrete steps have been taken to update voter lists since the 2011 election, making “technical delays” increasingly inevitable.
