The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the persistance of the crisis in the Kivus

[摘要] This study sets out to examine the causes for the continued conflicts in the Kivu particularly afterthe 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 thelocal population and the Kinyarwanda speakers that have settled in the region overtime. Thisconflict is mostly centered on the land issues which were not addressed in the final agreementsfor the establishment of the transitional government in Kinshasa, at Sun City in 2002. It shouldnot be surprising that this sparked new fighting in 2006 after the elections. Second is thecontinued existence of a central power vacuum. This is mainly because the national army isneither strong nor disciplined enough to establish its hegemony in the area. Its task was mademore difficult by the continued Rwandan interests in the area, which went beyond securityconcerns. Thus the Nkunda rebellion was only successful because of Rwandan support. Third isthe continuation of the war economy centered on the exploitation of natural resources that areabundant in the area. This has helped to fund the war in the Kivus, and as long as there areprofits to be made from natural resources exploitation, conflicts and violence in the area willcontinue.The conclusion from this study is that peace in the Kivus needs the establishment of a centraladministration with both military power to secure the area, in particular the mining areas andjudicial authority to prosecute the warlords and armed groups that continue to benefit from thecontinuation of conflicts and violence in the area.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand