Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo have led to concerns. Armed conflicts between the government forces and armed rebels have thus far displaced more than 1.2 million and killed tens of thousands. But there are several praiseworthy developments such as the willingness of rebels including the M23 for peace talks with the government and the peace agreement between DR Congo and Rwanda, which is a part of the armed conflict. The landmark DRC-Rwanda Peace Treaty that includes ceasing hostilities, respecting each other’s territorial integrity and halting support for non-state armed groups will help end conflicts between these countries and reduce armed conflicts in DR Congo. But it remains unclear whether and how much there will be peace in DR Congo.
Conflicts have been going on between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several rebel groups for decades. This is because of several reasons including the conflicting interests of the parties, ethnic grievances and the control of mineral resources. Various external forces including Rwanda have been providing support to the M23 rebel group for a long — though it often denies its involvement — in the armed conflict. Since January this year, conflicts have mounted between the government and the M23 rebels that have led to the capture of the city of Goma in eastern DR Congo. In this context, the willingness of the rebel group for a solution and peace talks in the peace dialogue held between the UN delegates and the Congo River Alliance that provides a meaningful scope has a higher chance of mitigating the long-standing conflicts.
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But there are transnational, ethnic rivalries and other challenges to end the armed conflicts and reach a solution with rebel groups. The involvement of neighboring countries, regional dynamics and factions among rebels may pose some challenges. Neighboring countries have been involved in the armed conflict. Though the Washington treaty between DR Congo and Rwanda will be immensely helpful, there are other regional parties including Uganda, a major regional player that maintains ties with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and against which there are accusations of providing arms and logistic supplies. Amongst the others, ethnic grievances and the lack of trust between the government and rebel groups can pose some challenges to making talks successful and resolving the conflicts.
Integrating rebels, a solution that DR Congo implemented earlier with several rebel groups and the Washington treaty promotes, may be a more desirable solution with the existing rebels too. But reaching the terms and conditions of the integration of armed rebel groups into society may be difficult and there can be reasonable areas of disagreement including the way of integration. Pertinently saying, past experiences of integrating rebels into the military were not desirably successful and led to new cycles of violence and the emergence of new rebel groups. Additionally, addressing the socio-economic needs of returning fighters and their communities in the social reintegration may pose challenges not only because of economic reasons but also other reasons including ethnic rivalries.
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But peace talks are vital and need to be held between the government and rebel groups including the M23, formed by the veterans of armed conflicts in the DRC and Rwanda, to address the challenges and reach peace —successfully. Their peace talks need to reach acceptable terms and conditions for the integration of rebel groups. But the flaws in the earlier DDR programs of DR Congo, which aimed to transition former combatants from different armed groups including the RCD-Goma, the Nationalist and Integrationist Front and RCD-National into civilian life, including insufficient focus on community reintegration need to be addressed in the solution.
But reasonable solutions also need to include other concerns including the displacement and livelihoods of local communities. Early peace talks between the conflicting parties may be more successful due to the conducive ground this time. But talks with Uganda will also be helpful for reaching a desirable solution with rebels, even if it has a scant role compared to Rwanda in the decades-long armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
