Second Congo Research Paper

Problem Solving in a Global Age Although ending more than a decade ago, remnants of the Second Congo war remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and little to no improvements have been made. Today, there are over 70 armed militias, some of whose origin began before the first war, competing for resources and territory while bringing terror to communities with little government intervention. While, there have been attempts to bring the country up onto its feet, economic competition for resources and companies illegally making deals with rebel groups, loose borders, decentralized untrained militias, and most of all manipulative governments, are continuously fueling the encouragement of war. Not only does this impact the DRC, but also its neighbors

In recent years it has slowly picked itself back up and improved its economy. But according to Janki Kaswala, the boost in revenue from the increased mining industry mainly goes off to the elite for personal gain, while the average citizen can barely afford to make a living with their wages, and frequent competition between the government and rebel groups over mineral and resource control creates an active war zone (Kaswala). The economy greatly benefitted from the rising mining industry, but it also invited and encouraged a spurt in more rebel groups from Rwanda and Uganda, but also power to rebel groups already active in Congo. According to Human Rights Watch, The Nationalist and Integrationist Front, who had been responsible for several war and humanity crimes in DRC, had been providing protection and security to major gold mining company based in Southern Ghana, AngloGold Ashanti, in return for financial support. ("Human Rights..."). Until the Government is able to regain complete control and extinguish these rebel groups, can they fully benefit from the industry. Borders between Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC are loosely, if at all, enforced. Just about anyone is able to come and go across the countries as they please. This means rebel groups like Mai-Mai Sheka, Lord’s Resistance Army, and M23 can easily march into any of these countries with no problem and start warfare. Although there’s been some efforts regarding the borders, there’s been little progress and there should be a “reactivation of an effective and permanent joint verification mechanism for the DRC and Rwandan border” ("Eastern Congo: Why Stabilisation Failed"). As fights between rebel and government militias continue, more and more people are recruited, and rather than trying to win strategically, it’s more of a game on who can outlast the other. Thousands are recruited with