Peacebuilding in Africa

The African Union and the Conflict Resolution Process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Authors

  • André Cavaller Guzzi FGV EAESP
  • Laurindo Tchinhama
  • Carolina Galdino

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/2178-8839.140758

Keywords:

African Union, Peace and Security Council, Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict resolution

Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing the actions of the African Union (AU) in the conflict resolution process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since its reconfiguration in 2002, one of the AU's goals has been to promote peace, security, and stability on the continent due to the series of civil wars that have plagued the continent since the 1990s. Since then, the armed conflicts in the DRC, officially ended in 2002, have challenged the efforts of international and regional actors in the search for a peaceful solution to this day. Through a qualitative approach supported by the critical literature on peace studies and international conflict resolution, we reflect on the AU's peace operations on the continent and, in particular, its role in conflict resolution and peace stabilization in the DRC. We argue that the AU's efforts in resolving conflicts in the country have proven insufficient, highlighting the failure of the institution's commitment due to the lack of coordination among countries, especially those with aspirations to assume a regional leadership role.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AFRICAN UNION. The 795th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on the implementation of the AU-led Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA). 02/10/2018. Disponívem em:https://www.peaceau.org/en/article/the-795th-meeting-of-the-au-peace-and-security-council-on-the-implementation-of-the-au-led-regional-cooperation-initiative-for-the-elimination-of-the-lord-s-resistance-army-rci-lra. Acesso em: 24/05/2024.

AFRICAN UNION. Constitutive Act of the African Union. Addis Ababa: [s. n.], 2000. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.3366/ajicl.2005.13.1.25. Acesso em: 24/05/2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3366/ajicl.2005.13.1.25

AFRICAN UNION. The Peace & Security Council. 2024. Disponível em: https://au.int/en/psc. Acesso em: 24/05/2024.

AFRICANEWS. DR Congo: South Africa set to deploy 2,900 soldiers to east DRC. 2024. 13/02/2024. Disponível em: https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/13/dr-congo-south-africa-set-to-deploy-2900-soldiers-to-east-drc/. Acesso em: 25/05/2024.

AKOKPARI, John. África Do Sul E a Arquitetura De Paz E Segurança Da União Africana : Velhas Responsabilidades E Novos. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Africanos, v. 1, n. 2, p. 30–50, 2016.

ALLEN, Nate. African-Led Peace Operations: A Crucial Tool for Peace and Security. Africa Center for Strategic Studies. 2023. Disponível em: https://africacenter.org/spotlight/african-led-peace-operations-a-crucial-tool-for-peace-and-security/. Acesso em: 30/05/2024

AMANI AFRICA. Discussion on the AU Human Rights Observers and Military Experts to the Republic of Burundi. 27/04/2021. Disponível em: https://amaniafrica-et.org/discussion-on-the-au-human-rights-observers-and-military-experts-to-the-republic-of-burundi/. Acesso em: 24/05/2024.

ASANTE, S. K. B; CHANAIWA, David. O Pan-africanismo e a Integração Regional. In: MAZURI, Ali A (Org.). História Geral da África - Tomo VIII África desde 1935 Cortez. Brasília: UNESCO, 2010.

AUTESSERRE, Séverine. The Trouble with the Congo Local Violence and the Failure of International Peacebuilding. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511761034

AUTESSERRE, Séverine. D. R. Congo: Explaining Peace Building Failures, 2003-2006. Review of African Political Economy, v.34, n.113, p. 423-441, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03056240701672510

BARNETT, Michael. Partners in Peace: The UN, Regional Organizations and Peace-keeping. Review of Internaitonal Studies, v. 21, p. 411-433, 1995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S026021050011798X

BBC NEWS. Two armies accused of backing DR Congo's feared rebels. 2024. Disponível em: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c134kgdpd6do. Acesso em 11/09/2024.

BELLAMY, Alex; WILLIAMS, Paul. Who's Keeping the Peace?: Regionalization and Contemporary Peace Operations. International Security, v. 29, n. 4, p. 157-195, 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.2005.29.4.157

BELLAMY, Alex J; WILLIAMS, Paul; GRIFFIN, Stuart. Understanding Peacekeeping. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010.

BIGATÃO, Juliana de Paula. As operações de paz da ONU: a década de 1990 e as crises de responsabilidades. In: MATIJASCIC, Vanessa Braga (ed.). Operações de Manutenção de paz das Nações Unidas: reflexões e debates. 1st ed. São Paulo: UNESP, 2014.

BORDALO, Ricardo. RDC: África do Sul envia força militar para o leste do Congo - M23 está a aumentar pressão sobre forças internacionais de interposição angolanas, quenianas e ugandesas. Novo Jornal. 2024a. Disponível em: https://novojornal.co.ao/internacional/interior/rdc-africa-do-sul-envia-forca-militar-para-o-leste-do-congo---m23-esta-a-aumentar-pressao-sobre-forcas-internacionais-de-interposicao-angolanas-quenianas-e-ugandesas-116926.html. Acesso em: 26/04/2024.

BORDALO, Ricardo. Ruanda/RDC: Mediação de João Lourenço dá frutos - Kagame vai sentar-se à mesa com Tshisekedi para diluir tensões e evitar uma provável guerra devastadora. Novo Jornal. 2024b. Disponível em: https://novojornal.co.ao/politica/interior/ruandardc-mediacao-de-joao-lourenco-da-frutos---kagame-vai-sentar-se-a-mesa-com-tshisekedi-para-diluir-tensoes-e-evitar-uma-provavel-guerra-devastadora-117334.html. Acesso em: 26/05/2024.

CARVALHO, Gustavo. The Future of Peace Operations is African, and Demands Better Coordination. IPI Global Observatory. 2020. Acesso em: https://theglobalobservatory.org/2020/09/future-peace-operations-african-demands-better-coordination/ Disponível em: 07/06/2024.

DA SILVA, Igor Castellano. Congo A Guerra Mundial Africana. Conflitos Armados, Construção do Estado e Alternativas para a Paz. 1a. Porto Alegre: Leitura XXI, 2012.

DOYLE, Michael; SAMBANIS, Nicholas. Making War and Building Peace: United Nations Peace Operations. Princeton University Press, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400837694

DE CONING, Cedric; GELOT, Linnéa; KARLSRUD, John. Towards an African model of peace operations. In: DE CONING, Cedric; GELOT, Linnéa; KARLSRUD, John (editores). The future of African peace operations: From the Janjaweed to Boko Haram. London: Zed Books, 2016, p.1-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350251038.ch-001

DURCH, William, et. al. The Brahimi Report and the Future of UN Peace Operations. The Henry L. Stimson Center. 2003.

DW. DR Congo conflict: Why is the cease-fire not holding? 2024. Disponível em: https://www.dw.com/en/dr-congo-conflict-why-is-the-cease-fire-not-holding/a-70051223 Acesso em: 09/09/2024.

FERREIRA, Patrícia Magalhães. “Estados Frágeis” em África: A Intervenção Externa nos processos de Construção do Estado (statebuilding) e da Paz (peacebuilding). f. Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa (ISCTE-IUL), 2014.

GENERAL, EAC Secretary. Status of deployment of eac troops and verification mechanisms in Eastern DRC, n. 20. Arusha, 2023. Disponível em: https://www.eac.int/statements/2733-status-of-deployment-of-eac-troops-and-verification-mechanisms-in-eastern-drc. Acesso em: 26/05/2024

GLAS, Aarie; ZARNETT, David. Regional organizations. In: FEN OSLER HAMPSON, A; ÖZERDEM, Lpaslan; KENT, Jonathan (eds.). Routledge Handbook of peace, security and development. London and New York: Routledge Taylor e Francis group, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351172202-32

GUERRA, Lucas; BLANCO, Ramon. A Construção da Paz no Cenário Internacional: Do Peacekeeping Tradicional às Críticas ao Peacebuilding Liberal. Carta Internacional, v. 13, n. 2, p.5-30, 2018. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.21530/ci.v13n2.2018.775. Acesso em: 02/05/2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21530/ci.v13n2.2018.775

IMRAY, Gerald. What’s happening in eastern Congo and why aid groups are warning of a new humanitarian crisis. APNEWS, 2024. Disponível em: https://apnews.com/article/congo-crisis-m23-kivu-2c1c7789e499622e377eefcacc833ec2. Acesso em: 05/05/2024.

KENKEL, Kai Michael. Five generations of peace operations: from the “thin blue line” to “painting a country blue.” Revista Brasileira de Politica Internacional, v. 56, n. 1, p. 122–143, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-73292013000100007

KODJO, Edem; CHANAIWA, David. Pan-africanismo e libertação. In: MAZRUI, Ali A; WONDJI, Christophe. (Org.). História Geral da África Tomo - VIII África desde 1935. Brasília: UNESCO, 2010.

MADRUP, Thomas. South Africa to lead new military force in the DRC: an expert on what it’s up against. The Conversation. Jan/2024. Disponível em: https://theconversation.com/south-africa-to-lead-new-military-force-in-the-drc-an-expert-on-what-its-up-against-219264> Acesso em: 02/06/2024.

MATTHYSEN, Ken; GOBBERS, Erik. Armed conflict, insecurity, and mining in eastern DRC: Reflections on the nexus between natural resources and armed conflict. IPIS, Antwerp, 2022.

NZONGOLA-NTALAJA, Georges. The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People’s History. London and Cambridge: Zed Books, 2007.

ORGANIZAÇÃO DAS NAÇÕES UNIDAS. Carta das Nações Unidas. São Francisco, 1945.

REYNTJENS, Filip. The Great African War Congo and Regional Geopolitics, 1996–2006. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511596698

RIBEIRO, Cláudio Oliveira. União Africana: possibilidades e desafios. África. Brasília: FUNAG, 2007.

SADC. Comunicado final da sessão extraordinária da troika da cimeira do órgão mais a troika da sadc e os países contribuintes com tropas (tcc) Para A Brigada De Intervenção (Fib) da Monusco. Windhoek: [s. n.], 2023. Disponível em: https://www.sadc.int/sites/default/files/2023-05/PT- Communique of the SADC Organ Troika Summit Plus SADC Troika and TCC 08 May 2023 Final_0.pdf. Acesso em: 31/05/2024

SADC. Destacamento da Missão da SADC na República Democrática do Congo. Gaberone: [s.n.], 2024. Disponível em: https://www.sadc.int/sites/default/files/2024-01/Destacamento da Missão da SADC na República Democrática do Congo .pdf. Acesso em 31/05/2024

SAINT-PIERRE, Luis Héctor; BIGATÃO, Juliana de Paula. As operações de paz da ONU e os atores regionais: arranjos cooperativos e desafios. Boletim Meridiano, v. 47, 2013. Disponível em: http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/. Acesso em: 05/05/2024

SANTOS, Luis Ivaldo Villafane Gomes. A arquitetura de paz e seguranca africana. Brasília: Fundação Alexandre de Gusmão, 2011.

SECRETARIAT, EAC. STATUS OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY REGIONAL FORCE IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, n. 22. ARUSHA: [s. n.], 2023. Disponível em: https://www.eac.int/statements/2791-status-of-the-east-african-community-regional-force-in-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo. Acesso em: 24/05/2024

TCHIE, Andrew. African-Led Peace Support Operations in a Declining Period of New UN Peacekeeping Operations, Global Governance. v. 29, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-02902006

TCHINHAMA, Laurindo; TOLEDO, Aureo; BIGATÃO PUIG, Juliana de Paula. Fadadas ao fracasso: construção da paz e democratização na República Democrática do Congo (2003-2018). Revista Latinoamericana Estudios de la Paz y el Conflicto, v. 3, n. 5, p. 105–121, 2021. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.5377/rlpc.v3i5.12752. Acesso em: 02/05/2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5377/rlpc.v3i5.12752

THE NEW HUMANITARIAN. The humanitarian fallout of DR Congo’s M23 rebellion. 2022a. Disponível em: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2022/07/21/DRC-M23-Rutshuru-displacement-aid. Acesso em: 09/09/2024.

THE NEW HUMANITARIAN. Revived M23 rebellion worsens DR Congo’s security troubles. 2022b. Disponível em: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2022/07/07/Congo-M23-Rwanda-martial-law-demobilisation-ADF-CODECO. Acesso em: 09/09/2024.

THE NEW HUMANITARIAN. Why we are protesting against UN peacekeepers in DR Congo. The New Humanitarian. 2022c. Disponível em: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/2022/08/18/why-we-re-protesting-against-un-peacekeepers-dr-congo. Acesso em: 09/09/2024

VOGEL; Christoph; VERWEIJEN, Judith. How to avoid false narratives around DR Congo's M23 conflict Struggles over fact and meaning create real effects on the ground. The New Humanitarian – Opinion. 2023. Disponível em: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2023/01/23/M23-Congo-Kishishe-information-warfare. Acesso em: 09/09/2024.

WEISS, Tom, et. al. The United Nations and Changing World Politics. Boulder, CO: West View Press, 2010.

WILLIAMS, Paul. Global and Regional Peacekeepers. In: KAHLER, Miles et. al (eds). Global Order and the New Regionalism. Discussion Paper Series on Global and Regional Governance. The Council on Foreign Relations, 2016.

YIHDEGO, Zeray. The African Union: Founding Principles, Frameworks and Prospects. European Law Journal, v. 17, n. 5, p.568–594, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0386.2011.00567.x

Published

2024-10-20

How to Cite

Cavaller Guzzi, A., Laurindo Tchinhama, & Carolina Galdino. (2024). Peacebuilding in Africa: The African Union and the Conflict Resolution Process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Conjuntura Austral, 15(71), 62–75. https://doi.org/10.22456/2178-8839.140758

Issue

Section

RESEARCH
Received 2024-06-15
Accepted 2024-10-03
Published 2024-10-20

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.