Democratic Republic of Congo Chapter Summary
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is recognized as the second most ethnically diverse nation in the world. Karbo and Mutisi provide an account of the many years of ethnic conflict in this region including an analysis of origins and crucial events. Various probable causes and consequences are reviewed which provide impetus for the associated recommendations for obtaining peace.
Several factors are noted as contributing to the negative sentiments between ethnic groups in the DRC, including early political decisions regarding eligibility for citizenship of specific regions. The authors acknowledge the early existence of a shared culture between two of the groups involved in conflict and present perspectives that a mythology of ethnic difference has been created and perpetuated by colonizers, political powers, foreign interests, rebel groups and media.
Karbo and Mutisi provide some reasons for the continued conflict throughout several states, including and surrounding the DRC, such as the weakness of state government. Foreign and rebel control of mining operations are viewed as contributing to the poor economy, thus exacerbating government inability to provide adequate social services, and resources for redevelopment projects. The authors view the current sense of deprivation and loss of security as setting the stage for further violence and conflict behavior.
Descriptions of the dire conditions in which the citizens of the DRC live are presented and provide motivation to enact the recommended changes that the authors hope will finally end these conflicts. Proposed actions include international assistance to strengthen the government, create security for citizens, address poverty, provide troops to cease current hostilities, and build a functional legal infrastructure. Internal steps towards conflict resolution are proffered, including peace conferences and challenge of the perpetuated ethnic mythology to engender civil society.
Cheryl Jorgensen
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Notes
- 1.
Autochones (‘native’) is the name given to themselves by non-Banyarwanda tribes of Kivu in order to stress their supposed ‘more genuine’ rights to Ziirian citizenship and economic privileges.
- 2.
Gerard Prinier (1995), quoted from UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs/Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), Situation Report on Masisi, North Kivu, Zaire, Nairobi, 26 February 1996; Human Rights Watch Africa/Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme, Forces de fuir: la violence contre les Tutsi au Zaire, New York/Paris, July 1996; Doctors without Borders, USA, Ethnic War in Eastern Zaire, Masisi (1994–1996), New York, 7 November 1996.
- 3.
Even journalists and scholars view the tensions as being between Bantus and Nilotes. Reacting to the 1994 Genocide, the New York Times deplored a “Rwandan Tribal war between Bantu and Nilotes.” See The New York Times, April 10, 1994. Also See, “Tribal Lives, for better and for worse.” Power, Jonathan. New York Times, May 25 2006.
- 4.
Notice at the Cyangugu/Bukavu border, 1994 – from Leslie Crawford, “Hutus see France as their Saviour,” Financial Times, 27 June 1994, cited in African Rights, Death, Despair and Defiance, 1994:59.
- 5.
The resolution was adopted in January 2006.
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Karbo, T., Mutisi, M. (2012). Ethnic Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In: Landis, D., Albert, R. (eds) Handbook of Ethnic Conflict. International and Cultural Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0448-4_15
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