After Congo

Chaos in the Congo is a constant. That the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has recommended an extension in its mandate in the Congo by a mere six months rather than the usual yearly increase indicates alls not well on the ground. This development follows a warning by UN legal advisers prohibiting UN troops from participating in active combat alongside the Congolese army as the army has been held accountable for violations against its own people.

From the days of Belgian colonialism down to the proxy wars of the Cold War,Congo has played host to rivalries. As international forces scaled and eventually wound down their efforts,they were replaced by regional players. The most prominent presence is that of Rwanda which battled its own Hutu-Tutsi rivalry as did Burundi. Uganda too got pulled into the conflict to curb its rebels based in the Congo. Similarly,Angolas civil war played out in southern Congo and Namibia allied itself with Angola. The list doesnt stop there rebellions from Sudan,Zambia,Tanzania and Burundi too have set up camp in Congo. Regional involvement has stalled and stunted attempts at peace as accords signed have been ignored by factions with loose allegiances. Ultimately,the Congo war is a war for Congos riches.

The UN mandate is due to expire in 2010. This has been the first occasion where the body has called into question the role played by its own peacekeepers in active combat. Rather than the narrow guidelines and on-the-spot tactics employed by peacekeepers as seen in Bosnia and Rwanda more comprehensive strategies are required. As the debate deepens over new UN rules of engagement,Congo should serve as a case study for the body to be a legitimate and effective force on the ground.