By
Philippe Tunamsifu Shirambere
Generally speaking, conflicts are inevitable or
an inescapable fact of human existence. However, warring parties may themselves
avoid further conflict, stop fighting and negotiate a settlement, or a third
party may enter the scene and enable parties to transform their relationship
and reach an agreement. Thus, beyond stalemate and de-escalation, warring
parties commit to not re-engage in armed conflicts, prevent future conflicts
and involve in reconstruction efforts. Nevertheless, often one party may fail
to fulfill the agreement or be without good faith and the conflict might
escalate again. This is the situation to which the DRC is confronted since 1997
even before; various armed conflicts have taken place, peace agreements have
been signed, but conflicts still escalate as the result of failure to restore
the State’s authority. On the other hand, agreements with armed groups and
neighboring countries are not respected because of selfish interests.
Particularly, in the eastern part of the DRC conflicts occur in a vicious
circle up to date. Areas rich in minerals are still under control of rebel
groups. Consequently, this situation has delayed the country’s development, it
blocks the reconstruction of the country, and unfortunately it has created
hatred among Congolese.
Indeed, this paper tries to respond to the
following question: how can reconstruction be possible in the eastern part of
the DRC while the current regime has failed to restore the State’s authority
and to resolve conflicts?
Different attempts of restoring sustainable
peace in the eastern part of the DRC will be examined in detail. Sustainable
peace should be seen as a holistic approach which takes into account all
aspects of life. It is very complex and
requires more efforts of all stakeholders to talk about what happened and to
address the main issues.
Regarding the desire for truth and the public’s
demand for justice through different signed peace agreements, as the first
truth and reconciliation commission (2003-2006) has failed to open a single
enquiry; this paper will examine the priority of designing a new truth and
reconciliation commission as prospect to attain sustainable peace in the DRC.
Before that, the indigenous multi-ethnic mechanism of low-level conflicts settlement
in North Kivu, ‘Barza intercommunautaire’ could be re-established in order to
sensitize all ethnic groups and bring dialogue between them with the purpose to
welcome the truth and reconciliation commission. Moreover, because the
conflicts have a regional implication, in order to maintain stability in the
eastern part of the DRC, a national dialogue will be suggested in both
neighboring countries so that the Rwandan and Ugandan militias operating in the
Congolese eastern forest since 1994 may return in their respective countries
through a dialogue process because efforts for military disarmament have not
been successful.
Thus, this paper provides a brief overview
of different conflicts; analyzes different attempts to address the past
as the way to rebuild the country, and the prospects of sustainable peace.
Send your comments as the paper will be published soon.
Paper presented to the International Peace Forum in the collaboration with the Rotary Club of Pretorai Hatfield and the Institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa (IDRA-UNISA) on May 2013.
Philippe Tunamsifu Shirambere is currently an LLD Student at UNISA. Has a Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes from the United Nations affiliated University for Peace (Costa Rica-2001) and a Honours in Public International Law from the Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (ULPGL-Goma). He is also a lecture of law at the ULPGL in the Eastern part of the DR Congo and author of two books in addition to a number of articles.
