West trying to resolve conflicts in eastern DRC

Mahmud al-Batakoshi

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) goes through tough conditions, with the conflict in the eastern part of this central African country reaching its peak.

This comes after the rebel movement, March 23, had overrun large swaths of North Kivu province, specifically the city of Goma, which is geographically close to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

This also came hard on the heels of the failure of regional mediation efforts, ones that thought to maintain stability in the region which is rich with natural resources, including diamond, gold and oil.

Major diamond producer

The DRC is the world’s third largest producer of diamonds, with 23% of global supplies, and the largest producer of cobalt, with 70% of supplies. Cobalt is a key element in technological industries.

International relations expert, Gamal Abdel Hamid, said the conflict in the eastern part of the DRC has been raging on for decades now between armed groups, some of which act as proxies for rival neighbouring countries.

“This caused the region to live in a state of constant turmoil,” Abdel Hamid told The Reference.

He said the same region has turned into an epicentre of a conflict described as one of the bloodiest since World War II.

Abdel Hamid estimated the number of people killed in this conflict so far at 6 million.

He described North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces as ‘hotbeds’ of conflict.

In these areas, he said, cross-border political and ethnic motives mix.

“The three provinces form part of the borders of the DRC with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, along with Tanzania in the south,” Abdel Hamid said.

International, regional rivalry

Abdel Hamid said the eastern part of the DRC has become an arena for international and regional competition, due to its geographical location.

This area, he said, is surrounded by Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

“This fed political and ethnic unrest in the region,” Abdel Hamid said.

He added that the same geographical condition made the area a centre for many local armed militias or those fleeing from neighbouring countries.

“These militias take advantage of Kinshasa’s weak security control over the region,” Abdel Hamid said.

March 23 is one of the most prominent armed organizations in the eastern part of the DRC.

The movement was founded in 2012 by former fighters in the Congolese army who were mainly fighters in a rebel movement.

The movement was also made up of the National Coalition of People for the Sovereignty of the Congo. This coalition was founded in 2017.

This chaotic situation prompted regional forces to offer their mediation services, given that the DRC is rich with natural resources, especially in areas controlled by the rebels.