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This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the limited effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), highlighting allegations of logistical support for rebels and the role of neighboring countries in sustaining conflict through illegal trade and arms supply.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It details the scale of attacks, the strategic intent behind the violence to destabilize communities, and the systemic failures that allow impunity, while suggesting regional political pressure and gender-focused conflict resolution as remedies.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies provides an update on the integration of the army and the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process in the Democratic Republic of Congo as of September 2005. It details the FARDC's strategic plan to establish a new armed force, the roles of various national and international coordinating bodies, and the significant logistical and financial challenges—including 'ghost soldiers' and unpaid salaries—that threaten the stability of the transition and the upcoming 2006 elections.

This report analyzes the limitations of international interventions in the security sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), specifically focusing on Security Sector Reform (SSR) and the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (ISSSS). The authors argue that these efforts failed to produce fundamental change because they adopted a technical approach that ignored the neo-patrimonial political nature of the Congolese state and the complex relationship between the military and local communities.

This report by Hans Romkema of the Life & Peace Institute analyzes the conflict dynamics in the Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It argues that while foreign interventions and refugee influxes have exacerbated the situation, the root causes are grounded in long-term bad governance, disputes over land and customary rights, and ethnic tensions. The author examines the internal divisions within the RCD-G, the structure of the Mayi-Mayi militias, and the challenges of the DDRRR (disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration, and resettlement) process, particularly regarding the FDLR. The report concludes that sustainable peace requires a focus on governance, the unification of the army, and cooperative economic and security relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

This briefing examines the challenges of completing the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) process and security sector reform (SSR) of the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It details the failures of previous DDR phases, the complexities of integrating various armed groups, and the lack of political will and donor coordination hindering the creation of a professional national army.