The main objective of this report is to draw on International Alert’s decade of peacebuilding experience in DRC, to propose a new approach towards laying the foundations of lasting peace. The report demonstrates how the conflicts devastating the east of the country are rooted in Congolese history and are political in nature. They mainly relate to the distribution of power and economic resources between various parties and are heavily influenced by the ethnic identity of the protagonists. Because of their historical origins, conflicts are inextricably linked to the way in which the country’s social and political structures operate. They combine local dimensions with regional war dynamics related to the consequences of the Rwandan genocide and the two Congolese wars (1996–1997 and 1998–2002), creating a particularly complex climate of conflict.
The report also analyses the various programmes designed to restore peace in the east, exploring why these have met with little success. It concludes that this lack of success is due to one overriding factor – their failure to take on board the underlying causes of the conflicts in any meaningful sense. Drawing on a superficial understanding of local realities, interventions have tended to focus heavily on technical aspects, while neglecting underlying political issues.
Given the disparity between the political and structural nature of the conflicts in eastern DRC, on the one hand, and the mainly technical response that has so far been provided on the other, the report argues that a new generation of peacebuilding strategy and intervention is needed.
In light of the current deadlock, there is an urgent need to expand the horizon of possible interventions and develop new approaches to establishing peace in eastern DRC. This must be built on a realistic and empirical basis, be inventive, and build on the strength of the existing positive social and political dynamics led by Congolese actors. Stakeholders must be willing to carry out frank analysis of the real causes and dynamics behind the conflicts, in order to develop peacebuilding strategies that have some chance of success. These strategies must involve strengthening the capacity of those actors who have both real power and a real interest in promoting peace, providing them with the necessary incentives and support.
