Continental peace and security: assessing the role of south africa in restoring peace and security in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict from 2000 - 2013

Abstract

The dissertation seeks to explore the intervention of South Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict from 2000 to 2013. The study was motivated by the fact that the people of the Democratic have suffered cruelly throughout the past 20th century from particularly brutal experience during the colonial rule and following independence in 1960, external interference by the foreign powers, under Mobutu‟s rule. There was a periodic warfare, which even now continues in the east of the country. Hence, the quest for South Africa to mediate in order to promote peace and security in the SADC region. After a series of meetings the Southern African Developed Countries decided to intervene. South Africa demonstrated action by sending South African National Defence Force troops to restore peace and security and the South Africa‟s first contingents was sent in 2001 to try and bring stability. There are still some troops in that country. The Department of International Relations and the Minister of the South African National Defence are always in talks with the different stakeholders. Although the war is far from ending, they are still working hard to achieve their goal of restoring peace. The study has investigated the practical issues and the root causes of the crisis and what South Africa as a leading role player in the intervention has done to alleviate the crisis. The research has revealed challenges and shortcomings which are at the core of the crisis. • War broke out over minerals. This resulted in extreme suffering and a breakdown of infrastructure, which in turn led to other problems like shortage of water, and the collapse of the infrastructure which led to poverty and sicknesses such as Malaria, HIV and Aids and others.