Jump to: Overview | Current Policy | Solutions
"The problems within the Congolese national army are daunting. Numerous militias have been incorporated into the army, but little or no effort has been made to re-train or properly reintegrate them into the army ranks, and in fact a large majority of FARDC soldiers in eastern Congo are not even registered within the Army at the National Level, making among other things, regular pay, largely problematic."– John Prendergast
Overview
Armies and police should exist to protect civilians , but in eastern Congo they are the primary perpetrators of murder, rape, torture, and extortion. The Congolese National Army, or FARDC, and the Congolese National Police, or PNC, are corrupt and ineffective, preying on the communities they're supposed to protect.
What is security sector reform (SSR)?
"The set of policies, plans, programs, and activities that a government undertakes to improve the way it provides safety, security, and justice. The overall objective is to provide these services in a way that promotes an effective and legitimate public service that is transparent, accountable to civilian authority, and responsive to the needs of the public." (source)
Programs to accomplish SSR:
- Defense and armed forces reform
- Civilian management and oversight
- Justice system reform
- Police
- Prison reform
- Intelligence reform
- National security planning and strategy support
- Border management
- Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) (source)
Current Policy
In 2005 Senators Barack Obama, Joseph Biden, and Hillary Clinton introduced legislation intended to assist the government of the Congo to establish a credible national army and police force. The force would be under civilian control that respected human rights and the rule of law. But now, six years later, the international effort has failed to deliver genuine improvements in the professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights of the Congolese National Army, or FARDC, or the Congolese National Police, or PNC.
Solutions
The national army and police force must reform to bring lasting peace to the Congo; however, the Congolese government has not demonstrated a commitment to facilitate this reform. By applying pressure or offering incentives to the Congolese government, the U.S. can and should lead the effort to encourage the professionalization of the Congolese security sector.
- Ensure that military personnel receive fair and regular pay.
- Assist with and invest in training the military.
- Develop a standard system for vetting soldiers and recruits for crimes and human rights abuses.
