In 2006 the EU launched its first autonomous military operation under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. Mission Artemis, as it was codenamed, was followed by a series of policies to reform the Congolese institutions, the justice system, the police and the army. This dissertation investigates whether these reforms are helping to build lasting peace in the DRC. In particular, this study focuses on the EU’s efforts in improving civil and political rights, such as the right to free speech and a free press, as well as freedom of association; the constitution that codified these rights; the administration of democratic elections; and finally, due process in the police, judiciary and army.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. PART II THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT
2.1 The Rwandan genocide as precursor to an unknown war
2.2 The legacies of the past
3. PART III THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF PEACEBUILDING
3.1 The role of democratisation
3.2 Transitional justice in post-conflict societies
4. PART IV THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ROLE IN THE DRC
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The new Congolese constitution
4.3 Democratic elections
4.4 Civil society and the media
4.5 Restoring law and order
4.6 The police reforms
4.7 Reforming the army
4.8 Evaluation of the EU assistance to the DRC
5. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation investigates whether European Union reforms are effectively contributing to the construction of lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by analyzing institutional, legal, and security-sector interventions.
- The role of the EU in constitutional development and democratization processes in the DRC.
- The impact of EU-led security sector reforms, specifically regarding the police and military.
- The effectiveness of transitional justice and human rights initiatives supported by the EU.
- The influence of international actors on the stability and institutional development of post-conflict societies.
- A critical evaluation of the legitimacy and success of EU peacebuilding policies in an African context.
Excerpt from the Book
3 Democratic elections
Holding the first democratic elections in 40 years in a country so strongly divided along ethnic lines and of continental dimensions was a great challenge and an enormous undertaking. However, according to the International Crisis Group, they turned out to be “the transition’s biggest success” (ICG 2007: 6). The EU’s role in the organisation of the election consisted notably of support to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the deployment of an election observation mission and the securitisation of the elections through a European military contingent (EUFOR RD CONGO).
In the first round of the presidential elections, the former president Joseph Kabila obtained 44.81 per cent, Jean-Pierre Bemba received 20.03 per cent. In accordance with the Constitution, the two candidates had to present themselves in a second round, which took place on 29th October 2006. Kabila won 58.05 per cent of the votes. In the parliamentary elections, Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy won the largest number of seats, followed by Bemba’s Movement for the Liberation of Congo, Gizenga’s Unified Lumumbist Party and the Social Movement for Renewal. There are also 63 independent candidates in the new Assembly.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the EU's transition from a civilian actor to one involved in military missions, setting the stage for the study of its peacebuilding role in the DRC.
PART II THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT: Examines the legacy of the Congo Wars and the systemic weakness of the state, which provides the background for current international intervention efforts.
PART III THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF PEACEBUILDING: Explores the conceptual foundations of democratization and transitional justice as critical components of post-conflict stabilization.
PART IV THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ROLE IN THE DRC: Details specific EU interventions, ranging from constitutional drafting and election support to the reform of judicial, police, and military structures.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the effectiveness of the EU’s intervention, acknowledging the positive contributions while highlighting the difficulties of transplanting Western democratic models into a different cultural context.
Keywords
European Union, Democratic Republic of Congo, Peacebuilding, Democratization, Transitional Justice, Security Sector Reform, ESDP, Elections, Human Rights, Constitutional Development, State-building, Conflict Resolution, EUFOR, EUPOL, EUSEC
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The paper evaluates whether the European Union's interventionist policies, specifically through the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), are effectively fostering long-term peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the democratization of war-torn states, the role of international actors in transitional justice, the importance of constitutional design, and the complexities of reforming local police and military forces.
What is the primary research question?
The dissertation investigates whether the reforms and assistance programs implemented by the EU are truly helping to build lasting peace and functioning democratic institutions in the DRC.
Which scientific methods were employed for this research?
The research is based on a desk-based study of official documents, reports from non-governmental organizations, academic literature, and email interviews conducted with policy actors within the EU delegation in the Congo.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the drafting of the Congolese constitution, the administration of democratic elections, the development of civil society, and specific projects aimed at restoring law and order, police reform, and army restructuring.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The research is best characterized by terms such as peacebuilding, democratic transition, Security Sector Reform (SSR), EU foreign policy, and post-conflict state-building.
How does the author view the EU's role in the Congolese constitutional process?
The author views the EU's involvement as a significant catalyst that pushed the peace process forward, largely through the conditional use of aid and technical expertise in establishing a semi-presidential system similar to the French model.
What are the primary criticisms regarding the EU's police and military missions?
Criticisms include the lack of sufficient evidence to assess the long-term effectiveness of these missions, questions about the legitimacy of exporting Western governance models, and debates regarding the influence of specific member states like France.
- Quote paper
- Ingeborg Friedl (Author), 2008, Consolidating peace overseas? The European Union's missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/162659
