Peace support operations in the DRC: Lessons learned for future interventions

Over the past few decades, the Democratic Republic of Congo has hosted several multilateral peace support operations—led by the United Nations, the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)—as well as bilateral military intervention forces in the east of the country, with the aim of managing conflicts and facilitating their resolution. However, the effectiveness of these operations has always been lacking, and their legitimacy is either ambiguous from the outset or waning. The lack of accountability, transparency, and local ownership has been a major flaw in certain missions in the eyes of civil society. The two-day workshop in Kinshasa brought together Congolese parliamentarians and members of civil society, as well as experts and academics from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Africa to discuss the successes and shortcomings of military interventions in Congo.

The discussions noted Kenya's relevant role in the design of the EAC through political rapprochement between the DRC and Kenya, followed by the distancing of these two countries due to political transitions in Kenya, among other factors. As with the EACRF, the population's expectations regarding the mission's performance on the ground did not match reality—nor did the expectations of the South African public. The political context in South Africa, with the ANC's declining credibility, naturally had an impact on SAMIDRC.

Burundi had multiple reasons for intervening, including securing its borders against the threat of an armed group and its desire to assert itself as a regional player. Uganda's long-standing interests in the region, closely linked to Rwandan issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were recognized. Some participants explained that its deployment had been reinforced due to the Congolese army's capacity shortcomings.

Finally, it was noted that MONUSCO's longevity—nearly 30 years in the field—despite its notable contributions to security, had undermined its credibility and sparked criticism during the discussions. The shortcomings highlighted at the end of the discussions were mainly the lack of accountability, transparency, and local ownership, with these gaps being considered major flaws in these missions.

FES and its partner Ebuteli will continue to engage policymakers and civil society in the region in discussions aimed at strengthening shared learning and policy development for sustainable peace and sustained political and socioeconomic development. Such dialogue aims to strengthen the state's responsiveness to citizens' needs, promote more inclusive institutions, and deliver policy outcomes.