Resolving the Conflict in the Great Lakes Region: The Role of the International Community

• Author: Emmanuel Mabiengwa Naniuzeyi
• Pages: 286-294

Resolving the Conflict in the Great Lakes Region

286286

286286

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Resolving the Conflict in the Great Lakes Region:

The Role of the International Community

EMMANUEL MABIENGWA NANIUZEYI

Spelman College and Clark Atlanta

University

17

Introduction

The establishment of a transition

government composed of the different

warring factions and the presence of the

MONUC (Mission of the UN in the Congo)

have contributed to give a momentum to the

peace process in the Democratic Republic of

Congo. Clearly, the de-escalation of the

conflict in the Great Lakes Region has brought

a much-needed relief to the vast majority of

the Congolese people. However, the lack of

mutual trust between the leadership of the

different factions represented in the

government and the suspicious relationship

between the former rebels and their allies in

Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi constitute a set

of ingredients that can pave the way to another

full-scale war in the region.

Needless to say, the conflict in the Great

Lakes Region is far from being totally resolved.

The peace accomplished, thus far, is very

fragile to the point that it requires a constant

management by the international community

represented by the United Nations and the

African Union. Consequently, the search for

a permanent solution to this conflict should be

the concern of people and nations that have

a genuine interest in promoting a lasting peace

in the region.

The purpose of this paper is to examine

the process through which a conflict of high

intensity that has resulted in the killing of nearly

four million people can be managed and

resolved. A conflict of this magnitude has also

caused the displacement of more than two

million people inside the country. Many of

these displaced people had no access to

outside assistance. In order to avoid another

full-scale interstate war in Africa, it is

imperative to understand how such a conflict

can begin and what can be done to prevent

it.

The paper will begin with a discussion of

the causes of the conflict in the Great Lakes

Region. It will also examine the efforts

deployed and the progress made thus far. In

the closing section, the analysis will look into

the process and mechanism used to address

the issue, while in the same vein, it will attempt

to make a set of recommendations that may

help to achieve a lasting peace in the region.

Understanding the Conflict in

the Great Lakes Region

Labeled by journalists and other experts as

‘Africa’s first world war’, the conflict in the

Great Lakes Region refers to the widest

interstate war in Central Africa. At least eight

African countries were directly or indirectly

involved in the war. In addition to these

countries, several non-state actors were also

involved in the conflict. The Great Lakes

Region is located in Central and Eastern parts

of Africa. It is composed of Uganda, Rwanda,