12/21/10

Sanctions on Congo (DRC) Case Study

I have just finished the case study about sanctions on the DRC. The chapter has some interesting conclusions about the effectiveness of sanctions and on why sanctions in the Eastern Congo have been ineffective so far.

The case study first explains how the Belgian Congo transformed into Zaire and how the country was managed under Mobutu Sese Seko. Then, it goes deeper into the second Congo War between 1997 and 2003 and how resources played an increasing role in financing the conflict. Subsequently the chapter explains how the power vacuum in the Eastern Congo led to a war economy in which mining is completely militarized.

Taking into consideration the background of the Congolese conflict and the role of resources, I discuss the UN sanctions imposed between 2003 and 2010. We can conclude that although sanctions have been implemented and monitored pretty well over the last years, the scope of the problem and the vastness and inpenetrability of the region make targeted sanctions rather ineffective. Even though some arms dealers, militia commanders and other sanctions busters have been caught, they keep on being replaced.
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For the complete chapter, read the full PDF version

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