ISS WORKSHOP REPORT

The report details a three-day workshop in Kinshasa involving the DRC Ministry of Defence and a SADC delegation. The proceedings focused on the challenges of military integration in the DRC, including the need for a national defence policy, the role of political will, and the management of personnel. SADC representatives from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique shared their specific post-conflict reintegration experiences. The document concludes that while regional experiences provide reference points, the DRC faces significant hurdles such as parallel command structures, lack of a formal defence policy, and interference from politicians.

• The DRC Vice-Minister for Defence identified four primary drivers for military transformation: political changes in the country, internal changes within the Army, the redefinition of the Army's mission and threats, and shifts in the international and regional geopolitical environment.
• SADC delegates from Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa emphasized that successful military reform and reintegration depend on political will, reconciliation policies, and trust between the government and former rebels rather than a universal technical formula.
• The DRC's security sector transformation is hindered by several critical gaps, most notably the absence of a formal Defence Policy, which prevents the government from defining threats and determining the appropriate size and role of the new Armed Forces.
• Observers noted that military integration in the DRC has primarily occurred at the general officer level, while at the troop level, soldiers remain loyal to their original forces, resulting in a 'Parallel Command Structure'.
• The General Army Commander of the Congolese Army highlighted two specific complications: the infiltration of Rwandan troops into the Congolese Army, who may serve Rwandan interests, and the persistent interference of politicians in military affairs.
• The report identifies severe logistical and administrative failures in the DRC military, including non-payment of soldiers and a general state of logistics described as being 'in shambles'.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2005). ISS WORKSHOP REPORT. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOLIDARITYDEFENCEPROG.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. ISS WORKSHOP REPORT. 2005. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOLIDARITYDEFENCEPROG.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=ISS WORKSHOP REPORT |date=27 June 2005 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOLIDARITYDEFENCEPROG.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2005iss, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{ISS WORKSHOP REPORT}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2005}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOLIDARITYDEFENCEPROG.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }