Congo-Role-Play

Roleplay of DRC Negotiations
12-5-02
Though not ideal, an acceptable solution for the RCD would entail a provisional
agreement, in which Joseph Kabila would govern along with four vice-presidents selected
from the ranks of the government, the rebel Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), the
rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) and the unarmed opposition. The RCD will
likely try to position itself in the vice presidency to insure that the AliR will be targeted.
The Rwandan backed RCD will push for vertical power sharing as well. The two
main rebel movements, the MLC and the RCD are demanding "vertical power sharing" in
the military, the provinces, the intelligence, the diplomatic services, the police, and state-
owned companies. This concept is rejected by the government of President Joseph
Kabila. The Kabila government will seek to avoid divesting itself of power over the
military, police as well as power at the provincial level.
Economics
The Rwandan elite network’s operations in the DRC are managed from the
Rwandan Patriotic Army’s “Congo Desk,” which links the commercial and military
activities of Rwanda. The elite network maintains close commercial ties with
transnational criminal networks that often provide aircraft used for transporting coltan
and diamonds as well as mining supplies. Control over coltan and diamond mines are
priorities for the Rwandan elite network.
Between 60 and 70 percent of the coltan exported from the eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo is mined under the direct control of the RPA. The coltan is removed
using military aircraft or aircraft of transnational criminal networks. The coltan is taken