Democratic Republic of Congo: Stability in Eastern DRC at Risk

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the instability in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), highlighting the failure of stabilization plans due to ongoing conflict, human rights abuses by both armed groups and national forces, and the complicating influence of regional actors.

• Stability in Eastern DRC is described as an 'illusion', exemplified by mass rapes near Luvungi in August 2010 affecting over 300 women and children. These atrocities were committed by Mai-Mai and Forces Démocratiques de la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) groups while a MONUSCO unit was located within 15 km in a Mobile Operational Base.
• The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (GoDRC) and MONUSCO implemented two stabilization plans starting in 2008: the United Nations Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (UNSSSS) and the Congolese Programme de Stabilisation et de Reconstruction des Zones sortant des conflicts Armes (STAREC). These efforts have been hindered by continuous conflict involving the FARDC, FDLR, Lord Resistance Army (LRA), and the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP).
• The Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC), which has integrated various militia groups including the CNDP, is identified as one of the largest violators of human rights, specifically using rape as a weapon of war. MONUSCO's support for FARDC military campaigns is noted to jeopardize the mission's impartiality.
• Regional instability is driven by the involvement of Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. Armed groups fund their operations by controlling parts of the mining industry and exchanging minerals for weapons with regional actors. Specifically, Uganda's pursuit of the LRA in the Ituri area has led to massive displacement and human rights abuses, while Rwanda's past entries into the DRC created significant tension.
• The primary obstacles to stability are the incomplete Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) of Congolese armed groups and the FARDC, as well as the DDRRR of the FDLR and LRA. Addressing these requires political will from the GoDRC and regional actors, including Rwanda opening political space for the return of the FDLR.

APA

Boshoff, H. (n.d.). Democratic Republic of Congo: Stability in Eastern DRC at Risk. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/democratic-republic-of-congo-stability-in-eastern-drc-at-risk

Chicago

Boshoff, Henri. Democratic Republic of Congo: Stability in Eastern DRC at Risk. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/democratic-republic-of-congo-stability-in-eastern-drc-at-risk.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Boshoff |first1=Henri |title=Democratic Republic of Congo: Stability in Eastern DRC at Risk |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/democratic-republic-of-congo-stability-in-eastern-drc-at-risk |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{boshoffnddemocratic, author = {Boshoff, Henri}, title = {{Democratic Republic of Congo: Stability in Eastern DRC at Risk}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/democratic-republic-of-congo-stability-in-eastern-drc-at-risk}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }