Member News
Lord Chidgey writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his question on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
June 30 this year will mark the 50th anniversary of Congolese independence.
With the support from regional governments and the international community, an end can be brought to the devastating conflict in the country's east. It is a conflict that has continued for over 12 years and has, according to some, cost more than 5.4 million lives.
The UK government is the largest bilateral donor to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), giving £100m last year, which makes Her Majesty's Government well placed to support the DRC government along the road to peace – if the political will is there to sustain the effort.
The conflict in the east of the country also underlines the urgent need to reform the security sector in the country. The Congolese Army needs to be able to better protect its own civilians.
While United Nations Security Council Resolution 1906 places protection of civilians at the core of the peacekeeping duties of the UN Mission in DRC, what is clear is that the international community should take a better-co-ordinated approach.
The militarisation of mining remains a key concern and is very much part of the bigger question of security and protection of civilians. Rebel groups controlling mines fund themselves through the sale of these resources.
A recent UN Group of Experts report on the DRC highlights links from minerals originating from these mines to UK registered countries. Legislation should be adopted to ensure UK companies trade in Congolese minerals with due diligence over their suppliers and do not trade in conflict minerals.
It is increasingly evident that a military solution alone will not solve the eastern DRC crisis. The conflict is complex, and targeting the rebel groups through military means alone is neither adequate nor effective.
The UN has started to demobilise and repatriate Rwandan democratic forces, ex-combatants and dependants, which is encouraging, but these individuals face huge challenges.
Reports suggest that land issues and chronic physical and livelihood insecurities faced by returnees can even provoke 'recycling' of refugees and combatants.
The Rwandan and Congolese governments need to do more – both at the political and civil society levels – to create a space for dialogue between all parties caught up in the conflict.
The UK should use the good relationship that it has with both to encourage stronger diplomatic – as well as a military – approach to conflict resolution in the DRC.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd