Congo-Role-Play

Roleplay of DRC Negotiations
12-5-02
situation in the DRC. (www.un.org, report: letter dated 15 October 2002 from the
Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, S/2002/1146
[hereinafter the report]). Furthermore, it recommends actions to be taken by the Security
Council “to help bring an end to the plundering of the natural resources of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.” The current disturbances and plundering of
resources by three elite parties in the Government-controlled area, the Rwanda-controlled
area, and the Uganda-controlled area (as the Panel has assessed in its report) have great
consequences for the humanitarian and economic situation of the DRC.
The leading parties and the criminal groups linked with them benefit from micro-
conflicts and are unlikely to disperse voluntarily. Even as the foreign military forces
continue their withdrawals, elite networks adapt their tactics in order to be able to
continue the exploitation. (see report at II. Change in tactics by elite networks).
The continuation of armed conflict is stimulated because UPDF have trained the
militia of their Ituri commercial allies, the Hema, and provoked the need for the victims
of Hema attacks to defend themselves. Lendu villages have secured their own local
forces and frequently attack Hema villages. The widespread armed activity is
characterized by opportunistic and chaotic encounters. As a result children are killed,
adult victims are eviscerated, women are raped, property stolen, houses burned, churches
demolished and whatever infrastructure exists is laid waste. (see report at 23).
To illustrate the grave circumstances, the Panel uses in its report the example of
the attack on the village of Mpingi on 24 December 2001. A withdrawing group of
Mayi-Mayi sought refuge in Mpingi and they were followed by APC. The entire village
was destroyed, houses were burned, and residents who were able to escape fled.