United Nations Peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

UNITED NATIONS (UN) PEACEKEEPING IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)
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Introduction
The UN has been able to effectively help the Democratic Republic of Congo prevent violence and armed conflict. Through the UN's operation in DRC, it assists the country in walking through the path to achieving peace and security. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries facing armed conflict and violence for a long time (Karlsrud 2015). The crisis has had adverse effects on families and deteriorated the humanitarian situation in the country. Clashes between people have led to severe impacts for people, whereby several deaths occur, villages burnt down, and displacement of people. In times of such crises, the United Nations comes to the rescue of victims affected by enhancing peacemaking in the country and offering medication to those injured, including victims of sexual assault and those displaced (Peter 2015). This research discusses some of the strategies the Chief Executive Officer of the UN has put in place to deal with the violence and armed crisis in DRC. In addition, the research seeks to inform the Chief Executive Officer of the policies he can implement to effectively deal with the armed conflict and violence in the country.
United Nations Peace Building in DRC
Upon its establishment in 1945, the primary mission of the UN was to maintain international peace and security. The UN achieves this by working to prevent conflicts, guiding conflicting parties to attain peace, and deploying peacemakers to areas where conflict and violence are experienced. The United Nations has effectively maintained peace and security in DRC through preventive diplomacy and mediation. The UN plays an essential role in preventing conflict through diplomacy and mediation (Peter 2015). The UN has also played the role of peacekeeping, intending to attain peace and security in DRC. The UN uses peacekeeping to help DRC navigate the path of conflict to peace. In addition, the peacemaking process applies in political operations in DRC. The recent incidents of the war in Congo comprise the world's most severe crisis. The crisis has led to fighting among rebel groups and against the country's armed forces (Peter 2015). Conflicts in DRC result from the political autonomy and fight for resources available in the country. It has led to the deployment of a peacekeeping force in the country by the United Nations.
The UN, an Intergovernmental organization, has developed as an essential platform for promoting global governance. In an era with rising demand for international regulation, the United Nations maintained peace and security worldwide.
Violence is one of the major crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Violence in DRC has its origin back in the 1994 genocide attack in Rwanda. During the genocide attack in Rwanda, opposing rebel groups Tutsi flee to the eastern part of DRC and formed armed groups (Muller 2015). The government could not control and defeat the armed groups, which led to breaking out of war. Since then, several instances of violence perpetrated by armed forces against civilians in various parts of DRC have erupted.
Also, the history of violence in DRC can be associated with its massive resource wealth. The resource wealth of DRC is approximately $24 trillion from its untapped mineral resources (Bellany and Hunt 2015). Trading from the mining activities helps in generating finances used to buy arms. Also, the massive resource wealth in DRC promotes the funding of different terrorist groups.
With the ongoing armed conflict and violence in DRC, the UN had to intervene to provide a humanitarian response to the affected people. In 2021, the UN requires EUR 1.5 billion to meet the needs of affected people. For a long time, people in DRC have to escape violence, which implies that they are forced to leave their homes and property to seek safety. Currently, there are over 5 million displaced people in DRC (Muller 2015). The armed conflicts and violence also prevent people from accessing their farms, which leads to food insecurity in the country.
The United Nations has made use of various strategies in dealing with the crisis in DRC. One of these strategies is the authorization of an offensive brigade under the mandate of the UN Organization, Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) (Howard 2015). The aim of establishing this movement is to support the Democratic Republic of Congo army in its fight against a terrorist group known as m23. The M23 movement comprised ethnic Tutsis. Through this strategy, the Congolese army, with the help of the UN peacemakers, defeated the armed group in 2013.
Prevention of conflict and peacebuilding are primary priorities in DRC. The Congolese wars are among the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War. During the crisis, 5.4 million people died due to the direct impacts of the crisis. Since the start of the Second Congo war in 1998, several deaths have happened either through explicit violence or the effects of the violence. Also, violence has contributed to different types of insecurities in other parts of the country. Some of the security concerns include food insecurity, poor social services, poor infrastructure, and displacement of local populations. In 2010, there were more than 2.1 million people displaced from their homes (Gray 2016). This humanitarian concern arises from the displacement of people as such incidents violate their human rights and lead to instances of sexual violence.
Further, the armed conflict and violence crisis significantly affects development in different parts of the country. Because of the conflicts in the country, the poverty level is very high. DRC is ranked 168th out of 177 as per a 2008 report.
Considering the violent incidents in DRC, the country has attracted several peace efforts. The United Nations has facilitated the peacekeeping process in the country to minimize the instances of violence. DRC hosts one of the most significant peacekeeping forces. The Sanctity agreement 2002 stipulates the primary conditions under which peace will be enhanced in the country. Some of the specified conditions in the agreement include democracy, territorial sovereignty, the balance of power, political checks, and all armed groups' control. The Mission of the United Nations in DRC has an enhanced chapter seve...