Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as of January 2009. It identifies key drivers of instability in North Kivu and outlines three potential scenarios for the region: the maintenance of the status quo, a return to war, or the establishment of peace through negotiations.

This situation report analyzes the security dynamics in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of Congo as of May 2005. It details the transition from a violent inter-ethnic conflict between Hema and Lendu groups to a period of forced disarmament driven by a UN ultimatum. While significant numbers of combatants have disarmed, the report highlights critical risks including the lack of timely reinsertion support from the UNDP, the predatory behavior of underpaid FARDC troops, and the continued influence of regional actors like Uganda and Rwanda.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies argues that for peace to be sustainable in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), civilians—particularly women, children, refugees, and internally displaced persons—must be transitioned from being viewed merely as 'victims' to being recognized as active 'stakeholders' in the peace process.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of anti-personnel landmines and the development of peacekeeping standby forces in Africa. It analyzes the operational challenges posed by landmines in irregular African conflicts, the progress of the Ottawa Convention across the continent, and the specific legislative and policy frameworks adopted by South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to combat mine proliferation.

This research paper examines the role of land tenure, migration, and competition for agricultural and pastoral land as structural and proximate causes of violent conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically in the Kivu provinces and Ituri Territory. The authors argue that colonial-era dual property systems and post-colonial patrimonial rule under Mobutu transformed land from a communal social asset into a currency of political power and economic wealth, marginalizing rural populations and fueling ethnic tensions.

This research paper by Alpha Sow, Head of Office for MONUC in Bunia, evaluates the impact of the Interim Emergency Multinational Force (IEMF) and Operation ARTEMIS in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It details the IEMF's role in stabilizing Bunia, the limitations imposed by its narrow mandate, and the subsequent transition to the MONUC Ituri Brigade. The author outlines three future scenarios for the region—worst-case, best-case, and most likely—and proposes a multi-layered strategy involving political, military, and humanitarian interventions to address the root causes of conflict, specifically 'greed and grievance'.