Instability in the eastern part of the country owes its origin largely to external causes.

For the umpteenth time in recent years, another deal to help bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern provinces was signed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Sunday, February 24, 2013. Witnessed by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the deal that was signed by leaders of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region, ICGLR, provides for the creation of a more robust, neutral, international force to eradicate all armed groups in the restive provinces.

Rich, But Poor

The Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC is a vast country of more than 2.3 million square kilometres that is rich in minerals, forests, oil and fertile land. Yet, the 2011 UN Human Development Report ranks the country 187th out of 187 nations in the world. All this is the consequence of decades of dictatorship under late President Mobutu Sese Seko, followed by the 1997 and 1998-2002 wars that claimed an estimated four to five million lives.

EU Support

As part of the international efforts to restore peace and stability to DRC, the European Union Commission's Country Strategy Paper for DRC for 2008 to 2013 amounts to about 584 million Euros (about FCFA 383 billion). The Commission's interventions will focus on physical reconstruction – transport infrastructure – as well as on restructuring of the State through the strengthening of good governance. The Commission, together with the Member States, is actively supporting security sector reforms involving the army, police and judiciary.

Boosting UN Peacekeeping

The recent decision by the United Nations to beef up its peacekeeping presence in DRC by deploying drones or pilotless aircraft to patrol the borders and check the activities of armed groups, is a much welcome development. It is expected to help put an end to cross border rebel incursions.

Neutral Force

Though the UN’s largest peacekeeping force in the world is in DRC, MONUSCO has been blamed for being unable to protect the country and civilians against armed groups. A recent case in point was the M 23 rebel takeover of the eastern provincial town of Goma while UN troops watched helplessly. The deployment of the robust, 2,500-strong Southern African Development Community, SADC neutral intervention force is expected to make a difference. It will be made up largely of well trained and battle-tested South African and Angolan troops.

Engagement Of ICGLR 

The signing by ICGLR leaders of the Addis Ababa Peace Pact is perhaps a strong indication of its eventual implementation. Rwanda and Uganda – known to be perpetual backers of DRC ethnic rebels – were also signatories.