The urgent need for a renewed SSR effort in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The relatively peaceful 2006 elections which concluded the process of transition from civil war to a legitimate government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) certainly gave some grounds for optimism.

However, many root causes of the conflict remain unresolved and could jeopardise the electoral achievements, as some recent incidents have demonstrated. The Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC), the regular Congolese armed forces, have been unable to influence the security situation to any great extent, as they themselves are still a security risk rather than a factor contributing to the solution of the country's many problems.

There is therefore an urgent need for renewed effort in the area of security sector reform (SSR), driven by the new Congolese government but with the assistance of the international community.

In the meantime, the presence of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force, the Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies au Congo (MONUC), remains of fundamental importance for the country's stability. For this reason, these 'blue helmets' should more than ever continue to contribute to the SSR process as part of their exit strategy.

In the longer term, as this paper will point out, the European Union (EU) should take over the lead and develop a common strategy with the rest of the international community and the Congolese authorities.

• Primary Source

Textbook/Monograph/Reference http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-european-union-and-human-security-external-interventions-and-missions/

ESO: Background Information http://www.europeansources.info/record/africa-eu/

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