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A Diplomatic Gambit: A Proposal for Moving Peace Talks Forward in Eastern Congo

Aaron HallNo comments

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A Diplomatic Gambit: A Proposal for Moving Peace Talks Forward in Eastern Congo

Posted by Aaron Hall on September 26, 2012

A Diplomatic Gambit: A Proposal for Moving Peace Talks Forward in Eastern Congo

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The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo is at a critical turning point, and the risk of renewed international war hangs in the balance. At stake in this struggle between the Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels is control of the resource-rich provinces of eastern Congo, the survival of the Congolese state, the relationship between Rwanda and its principal donors, and the stability of the entire Great Lakes Region of Africa. A June 2012 United Nations Group of Experts report laid responsibility for the intensification of fighting at Rwanda’s doorstep by demonstrating direct links between the highest levels of government in Rwanda and the M23. Since then, several western governments including the United States have publicly condemned the rebellion and cut or suspended economic assistance to the Rwandan government. However, those cuts have not yet had the intended effect.

As the international community works to defuse the crisis in Congo, the U.S. and its allies must begin to work towards a sustainable peace with accountability for those who have committed serious crimes. There will be opportunities to achieve this in the coming months. Notably, the meeting between Congolese President Joseph Kabila, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and other world leaders at the United Nations on Thursday offers a chance at transforming the current regional talks into a more robust peace process that addresses the key security, economic, and political issues. At that meeting, as well as in other subsequent forums, the U.S. and its allies must convey strong messages to both Congo and Rwanda about a cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and the establishment of a road-map towards a sustainable political solution to the crisis. In addition to diplomatic pressures, the U.S. and others can be very helpful in imagining political and economic endgames that begin to address the core agendas of the warring parties so that sustainable peace becomes a real possibility.