The Endless Struggle: Understanding the 30-Year Conflict in the DRC

The Instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is what has been referred to as one of the longest running conflicts in the world, spanning over 30 years which has resulted in the death of an estimated 6 million people since 1996 (Al-Jazeera, 2024). The constant instability is an extremely fragile and complex topic that goes back all the way to the Congo Crisis of the 1960's, when Congo became an independent nation from Belgium. The current situation in the DRC is a trilogy of events which have continually crippled the DRC's economy, stability and has waned the government's administrative capability in the region.

The current disruption in the region that the world bears witness began in 2012, when an insurgent group called M23 defected from the Congolese army in protest due to poor pay and working conditions, and the unwillingness of the DRC to implement the March 23rd 2009 peace deal regarding military autonomy and restructure in eastern DRC. On 4th April 2012 over 300 soldier defected to form M23, which would later push through the regional city of Goma (North Kivu Province) on the 20th November 2012. throughout it's operation it has continually criticized the DRC government, and more specifically former President Kabila of corruption allegations, as well as voter fraud during the 2011 elections.

A failure to implement a United Nations Resolution

Although their presence is known, The UN has been encountered DRC before, under the ONCU peacekeeping operation between 1960-1965 in response to civil unrest and military instability emerging from DR Congo's independence from Belgium in June 1960, and the succession of the Katanga province by Belgian-backed separatists. The fallout of Belgian colonialism, totalitarianism of the Mobutu Regime, ethnic tensions via Belgian eugenics and corruption within public institutions has resulted in further conflict, such as the First & Second Congo War, as well as the ongoing internal conflicts today, most of which are residual insurgencies, a symptom of the Second Congo war. The UN's operations within Congo have been heavily criticized by locals, from Operation Morthor during the Congo Crisis all the way to the MONUSCO's inability to stabilize the eastern DR Congo region. Although some of the UN's previous short term goals have been reached, they have been unable to secure long term stability in the region, and just recently, the UN has decided to withdraw all peacekeeping support from the region by the end of 2024 (Voa News, 2024), which may create a power vacuum similar to what was witnessed in Afghanistan. The United Nations mission has been constantly criticized by the DRC Government and civilians, claiming it has been "ineffective in protecting civilians from armed groups and militias" (Voa News, 2024), and has just stood idle failing to support either side.

A Symbol of the Congo Crisis: Mamadou Ndala

We could say someone who fully symbolizes the crisis in the Congo is Mamadou Ndala, a Congolese army colonel who distinguished himself of the field of battle, effectively dealing with the M23 Rebel group during 2012-2013, routing them from Goma's surroundings. Mamadou's accomplishments did not fall on deaf ears, and as a result he was assassinated by contracted mercenaries for $20,000USD by 2 other FARDC Colonels, jealous of his rise to fame and his excellent performance. This corruption and insubordination that's rampant throughout the Congolese national army is one of the major factors holding it back. As a result it fails to address a crisis that is only being prolonged for well over 30 years, and has directly contributed to an increase in rebel groups in the DRC, with well over 120+ operating in North Kivu alone (GCRP, 2024). The irregularity of FARDC has also been used to advance people, with rebel groups falling in and out of the  army in order to use their positions as leverage to obtain higher ranks and pay. Mamadou was considered a leading figure by many and loved by the local public and was the spearhead of military reforms, but unfortunately became victim to some of the Congo's greatest problems, problems which are blamed by both sides.

The Situation Today

The current crisis is rapidly deteriorating, with major actions taken within the last few months, both from separatist groups in the North Kivu Region, as well as a failed attempted coup in the DRC's capital Kinshasa by Christian Malanga. in the eastern provinces, the M23 movement had executed it's deadliest operations since 2022 (CrisisWatch, 2024), launching a rocket attack against two displacement camps which killed 35 people. Additionally a separate Islamic state backed rebel group called the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) has resulted in unknown casualties between 3-13th May. If the Government and FARDC are unable to sort out corruption, as well as failing to fix administration and infrastructure in east Congo, then the conflict will draw out even further, especially without the support of the UN, and more concerningly may draw the entire central African region into a larger conflict, like what may be unfolding in the middle east.

The current disruption in the region that the world bears witness began in 2012, when an insurgent group called M23 defected from the Congolese army in protest due to poor pay and working conditions, and the unwillingness of the DRC to implement the March 23rd 2009 peace deal regarding military autonomy and restructure in eastern DRC. On 4th April 2012 over 300 soldier defected to form M23, which would later push through the regional city of Goma (North Kivu Province) on the 20th November 2012. throughout it's operation it has continually criticized the DRC government, and more specifically former President Kabila of corruption allegations, as well as voter fraud during the 2011 elections.

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