This article has been written by Ms. Krisha Rawal, a 2nd year student of NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law, Mumbai.

Abstract

In order to extract invaluable insights from their peacekeeping efforts, this paper analyzes the complex relationship between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Security Council. The Security Council’s initiatives in the DRC have covered a wide range of issues, with both successes and setbacks providing important lessons. The Security Council was involved in a variety of topics, notably political instability, armed wars, humanitarian disasters, and resource exploitation. The Council’s activities in the DRC seek to restore stability, encourage peace processes, and strengthen governance structures. However, the truth on the ground frequently revealed unexpected difficulties, hindering the route to long-term peace. This article examines these experiences in order to extract significant lessons that might be used to future peacekeeping efforts in the DRC and other conflict zones across the world. It highlights the significance of adapting techniques to changing circumstances and encouraging exhaustive, locally driven solutions. This paper attempts to contribute to a better informed and efficient strategy to peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere by combining these lessons.

Introduction

The United Nations Security Council is a major actor in the complex terrain of global peace and security, tasked with resolving crises and supporting stability. Its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provide a remarkable case study, providing important insights into the intricacies and challenges of modern peacekeeping missions. For decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a huge and loaded with resources country in the center of Africa, has been steeped in conflict and turmoil. The presence of the Security Council in this region represents a coordinated international effort to stop brutality, restore order, and create the framework for long-term peace. However, the DRC’s path to stability has proved far from smooth, with a tapestry of accomplishments, disappointments, and lingering quandaries. 

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council has implemented a variety of strategies that include diplomatic interventions, the deployment of peacekeeping forces, and assistance with governance and rebuilding efforts. These efforts have developed over time as a response to the dynamic and frequently unpredictable character of the scenario on the ground. The Security Council has struggled to adjust tactics to the shifting nature of conflict, starting with the initial setting up of MONUC (United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and continuing through the subsequent transitions that resulted in MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). This article begins a thorough examination of the lessons gained from the Security Council’s involvement in the DRC. 

It aims to deconstruct the intricate web of problems and triumphs, providing a comprehensive examination of the elements that determined the success of peacekeeping efforts. The notion that the DRC’s multifaceted conflict requiring varied solutions compelled the Security Council to traverse through political, socioeconomic, and human dimensions concurrently is central to our research. Through a close examination of the subtleties of the Security Council’s decisions and their effects in the DRC, this paper seeks to extract important lessons that can be applied to modern peacekeeping. It tries to discover trends in success and failure in order to provide insight into the adaptive methods required for long-term peacebuilding. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for regional ownership and the assimilation of multiple perspectives in developing sustainable and long-term solutions.

Historical Overview

The UN Security Council’s (UNSC) connection with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in its efforts to maintain peace is deeply based in a turbulent past marked by multiple disputes and international interventions. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a huge and abundant in resources nation in Central Africa, was embroiled in violence for decades, which has been exacerbated by a variety of circumstances. The fall of the Mobutu dictatorship in 1997 created a power vacuum, throwing the country into political chaos and violent strife. Ethnic rivalries and racial segregation inflamed the upheaval even more, generating a spiral of bloodshed that gripped the country. 

The UN Security Council intervened with peacekeeping measures in response to the developing conflict. The establishment of MONUC (United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1999 was one of the first substantial interventions. MONUC (United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) was renamed MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 2010, reflecting the mission’s evolving nature and enlarged mandate. The dispute patterns in Congo were complex and difficult. The nation’s abundant natural riches were the target of multiple armed organizations fighting for dominance, which made the atmosphere extremely unstable. The scenario on the ground was marked by human rights violations, significant civilian displacement, and a massive humanitarian disaster. The Security Council’s intervention in the DRC was intended to restore stability, protect people, and encourage peace. The challenges, however, were formidable. The immensity of the territory, combined with the complexities of the conflict, presented substantial challenges to efficient peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, the DRC’s dense network of power dynamics and internal conflicts complicated the peace process.

Despite these obstacles, the UN Security Council’s involvement continued, demonstrating the international community’s acknowledgment of the severity of the situation in the DRC. The peacekeeping operations in the country changed over time, modifying their techniques to address new challenges while attempting to safeguard civilians and foster an atmosphere conducive to peace and stability. The historical brief of the Security Council’s engagement in the DRC emphasizes the long-term efforts to address a complex and protracted conflict. It provides a framework under which the lessons learnt from previous peacekeeping missions can be analyzed, revealing the complexity and nuances associated with handling conflict and creating peace in a problematic region.

Challenges faced by UNSC

The United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) experienced a slew of difficulties, highlighting the complications inherent in handling conflicts and sustaining peace in such settings. The complex and multidimensional nature of the dispute itself was at the heart of these difficulties. The presence of various armed factions with conflicting aims and alliances created a tremendous barrier to maintaining stability. These factions, who were frequently fighting for control of resources, sustained bloodshed and hampered efforts to reach comprehensive peace agreements.  Another big impediment was the humanitarian situation caused by the conflict. Civilians faced a catastrophic situation as a result of massive displacement, human rights violations, and the breakdown of key services. Delivering adequate humanitarian relief to conflict-affected zones faced logistical challenges, making it difficult to effectively relieve suffering and stabilize impacted people.

Political unrest in the DRC created a significant impediment to peacekeeping activities. The instability of political institutions, as well as power struggles among numerous factions, made it difficult to construct a unified and stable governance system. Addressing the root causes of political insecurity has remained a continuous problem in the pursuit of long-term peace. Furthermore, the DRC’s vast size and diverse topography caused logistical hurdles. The wide territory and difficult geography made deploying as well as collaboration of peacekeeping forces difficult. This intricacy made it impossible to secure timely humanitarian relief distribution and effective civilian protection in remote and conflict-affected areas. External influences exacerbated the complex conflict dynamics. The internal conflict in the DRC was made more complex by regional interests, armed groups’ cross-border migrations, and engagement from neighboring nations. It took complex negotiation and coordinated efforts from multiple regional players to resolve issues in such a setting.

Furthermore, resource limits surfaced as a significant obstacle. The difficulties of maintaining peacekeeping missions in the midst of a lengthy and complex conflict stretched available resources. Limited budget and logistical assistance hampered peacekeeping operations’ capability and effectiveness, limiting their ability to address the DRC’s numerous concerns effectively. These obstacles emphasized how difficult peacekeeping is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), underscoring the necessity of flexible tactics, ongoing international assistance, and creative methods to traverse the complexities of peacebuilding and conflict resolution in such intricate settings.

Lessons learned from the peacekeeping efforts

The United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have given critical lessons regarding conflict resolution and international action. Firstly, the DRC’s war complexity demonstrated the value of varied methods. These battles involved a slew of armed factions, each with their own ambitions, in a terrain shaped by local balances of power and resource struggles. To address such complicated conflicts, comprehensive methods that go beyond military actions are required. Furthermore, the importance of local engagement became clear. Recognizing the local context, interacting with communities, and incorporating them into decision-making processes were all critical. The effectiveness and long-term viability of peacekeeping activities were increased by engaging local actors and taking into account their opinions.

It became clear how important discussion, conciliation, and solving conflicts are. In order to reduce tensions and open the door for long-lasting peace, it was crucial to support initiatives for reconciliation and to encourage communication between groups engaged in conflict. These programs tried to bridge gaps and address the underlying causes of disputes. Humanitarian aid has also played an important role in peacekeeping efforts. It was critical to provide comprehensive humanitarian aid alongside peacekeeping operations. It handled the immediate requirements of afflicted populations, helping to stabilize conflict-stricken areas. 

Another important lesson was the significance of gender equality in peacebuilding. Recognizing and integrating women in peace negotiations improved not just the status of women but also contributed various viewpoints that enriched peacebuilding efforts. Peacekeeping mandates demonstrated adaptability and evolution. Peacekeeping missions have to adjust their techniques and mandates as conflict dynamics changed. This adaptation to deal with new issues was reflected in the move away from traditional peacekeeping and toward the protection of civilians. Despite these lessons, considerable obstacles remained. The extent and efficiency of peacekeeping missions were constrained by resource constraints. The ongoing complexity of conflict processes, along with political insecurity in the DRC, posed new challenges to long-term peace attempts. 

Finally, the lessons learnt from the Security Council’s peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlight the complexity of conflict resolution and international action. They emphasize the importance of holistic approaches, local engagement, discourse, relief efforts, inclusion of women, and adaptive strategies. These experiences act as the foundation for upcoming peacekeeping missions, highlighting the need of addressing core issues and engaging diverse stakeholders in order to achieve long-term peace in conflict-affected areas.

Conclusion

After being paralyzed during the Cold War, failing totally in Somalia & Rwanda in the early 1990s, and watching states take their own efforts in Iraq and Kosovo – has the UN in the Democratic Republic of the Congo really retaken the initiative as the major source of international peace and security? Some might say yes, but some disagree. In the instance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the AU was prepared to intervene until the UN took over. Advocates of this trend would argue that it is consistent with the organization’s mission and represents an organic development of the ever-changing ideals of peacekeeping. Others might say that the UN has grown overly forceful and that its recent practices are inconsistent with the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the general prohibition on the use of international force. Maybe even against the organization’s purpose and ideals; after all, it is intended to serve an example in its support of international peace. MONUSCO’s mandate, in their opinion, would be equivalent to an uprising against the basic ideals of peacekeeping. 

Now let’s talk about the political side of things. Any advancement in the creation of the collective security framework requires agreement amongst the permanent SC members. While people in various regions are in need of political unification and international peace and security provisions, it is not a coincidence that fresh measures are being taken in central Africa. It appears to be a location where national interests take a back seat to the need for global security and peace. For example, the humanitarian crisis in Syria has posed a danger to regional security for several years. Nonetheless, the permanent members of the Council have been unable to establish a political solution, which is primarily opposed by China and Russia. This could explain why the same nations insisted on the terms in the MONUSCO resolution saying that it is not to be interpreted as a free pass for the UNSC to initiate similar PKOs in other regions where they are unwilling to support UN missions in the name of their own influence. If the members of the Council were motivated by the desire for security for humanity and world peace, PKOs with broad and successful mandates like MONUSCO’s should have materialized in other areas of armed conflict. Ironically for those who are suffering in places closer to any of the ‘P5’ interests, this form of robust peacekeeping appears to exist due to an absence of national interests in the area in question.

References

1. This article was originally written by Jenna Russo and published on the website of LSE.                                          The link for the same is herein. “What the DRC teaches us about militarised peacekeeping” https://lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2021/12/07/what-the-drc-teaches-us-about-militarised-peacekeeping-security-congo/. 
2. This article was anonymously written and published on the website of UN Press. The link for the same is herein. “Peacekeeping Missions Stand as an Important Deterrent to an Even Grimmer Reality” https://press.un.org. 
3. This article was anonymously written and published on the website of Al Jazeera. The link for the same is herein. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/19/un-security-council-agrees-to-early-withdrawal-of-dr-congo-peacekeepers. 
4. This article was originally written by C. Klobucista and published on the website of Council on Foreign Relations. The link for the same is herein. “The Role of Peacekeeping in Africa.” https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/role-peacekeeping-africa. 
5. This article was anonymously written and published on the website of Relief Web. The link for the same is herein. https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/despite-peacekeeping-missions-efforts-security-situation-worsening-democratic-republic-congo-special-representative-tells-security-council. 
6. This article was originally written by J. Matamis and published on the website of Stimson Center. The link for the same is herein. “Prioritizing and Sequencing Security Council Mandates in 2023: The Case of MONUSCO” https://www.stimson.org/2023/prioritizing-and-sequencing-security-council-mandates-in-2023-the-case-of-monusco/. 
7. This article was anonymously written and published on the website of UN Press. The link for the same is herein. “Mission Drawdown in Democratic Republic of Congo Must Not Create Stability Vacuum,                         Jeopardize Civilian Protection, Senior Official Tells Security Council”  https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15334.doc.htm. 
8. This article was originally written by Rachel Sweet and published on the website of Springer. The link for the same is herein. “Peacebuilding as State Building? Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo” https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46636-7_17. 
9. This article was anonymously written and published on the website of The Security Distillery. The link for the same is herein. “Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Twenty Years of Attempted United Nations Peacekeeping” https://thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles/violence-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-twenty-years-of-attempted-united-nations-peacekeeping. 
10. This article was originally written by L. Anami and published on the website of The East African. The link for the same is herein. “UN peacekeeping reforms open door for DR Congo funding” https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/un-peacekeeping-reforms-open-door-for-dr-congo-funding-4385342.