Amid the enormous media focus on the new Trump administration, Ukraine, and the Middle East, it is easy to lose track of what is happening in Africa. This is nothing new. Western media often overlooks African conflicts until they directly impact Western interests. For example, the Biafra conflict (1967–1970) received little attention until significant casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis emerged.
Still, there is some media attention being given to the conflict in the province of North Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly centered around the city of Goma. Making sense of the importance of these developments is not easy, given reports that the instability might even involve the DRC as a whole, as well as neighboring countries like Rwanda. This is despite longstanding UN (through MONUSCO) and regional peacekeeping efforts—including contributions from South Africa—that have been ongoing for several decades.
A prominent actor in this conflict is the March 23 Movement (M23), which derives its name from a failed peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009. The M23, dominated by ethnic Tutsis (who suffered large-scale violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide), is primarily supported by Rwanda and indirectly by other regional and international actors. It is involved in a struggle for control over the region’s vast natural resources. The conflict has resurged in the last two years after about a decade of relative calm. It is driven by a combination of political, economic, and ethnic factors, raising the question of whether this is more than just a humanitarian issue.
A cursory look at the developments over the past 30 years, including the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the ongoing instability in Burundi, suggests that this is not a minor issue for Western countries. The region is central to the extraction of strategic metals, including cobalt and gold. In fact, the DRC produces approximately 70% of the world’s cobalt, a critical mineral for electronics and renewable energy technologies. This raises the question: to what extent is the West willing to intervene, beyond military assistance, to secure its interests in the region?
It is worth noting that even Sweden participated in a 2003 EU-led military operation called Artemis, which was spearheaded by French forces. Sweden contributed a small contingent of special forces to this mission, which took place in the Ituri region, about 300 kilometers north of Goma. Operation Artemis was one of the EU’s first ”out-of-area” interventions, highlighting the strategic importance of the DRC to Western interests. This type of intervention may become more common as the EU and other Western powers focus on securing access to critical resources, even as they prioritize more immediate regional challenges, such as the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.
On a broader level, the situation is influenced by the fact that the DRC government lacks the capacity to govern and control the eastern parts of this vast country. The distance from Kinshasa, the capital, to Goma is approximately 2,500 kilometers by road, underscoring the logistical challenges of maintaining authority over such a large and fragmented territory. The EU intervened in support of the 2006 elections in the DRC, reflecting its interest in stabilizing the country and promoting democratic governance.
Security Challenges in Africa’s Great Lakes Region
The Great Lakes region faces a range of complex and interconnected security challenges, including:
- Violent Conflicts and Instability
The region is characterized by a long history of violence, weak governance, and numerous armed groups, particularly in the DRC, which remains one of the world’s most unstable states. Conflicts often spill across borders, creating a complex web of violence that destabilizes the entire region. - Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons
One of the most significant challenges is the widespread availability of illegal small arms and light weapons. These weapons fuel violence and instability, contributing to high levels of civilian casualties and perpetuating cycles of conflict. The issue of child soldiershas also been high on the international agenda for several decades. - Border Security Issues
Porous borders facilitate transnational insurgencies, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes. This lack of control over border areas allows armed groups and criminal networks to operate with relative impunity, further complicating efforts to establish security. - Refugee Crises
The region has experienced significant refugee flows, particularly following the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The displacement of large populations has fueled internal conflicts and regional instability, creating long-term humanitarian and security challenges. - Environmental Challenges
Climate change, water pollution, and overfishing threaten the region’s ecosystems and livelihoods. These environmental issues exacerbate existing tensions and require coordinated efforts to address their impact on security and stability.
Conclusion
The security challenges in Africa’s Great Lakes region are complex and multifaceted, requiring coordinated international and regional efforts to address. Violent conflicts, the proliferation of small arms, border security issues, and refugee crises are among the most pressing concerns. Additionally, environmental challenges further complicate the region’s stability.
The issue of resource-rich but unstable countries in Africa and other parts of the world was central to the drafting of the European Security Strategy (ESS) in 2003. The ESS emphasized the risks posed by state collapse and the potential for instability in resource-rich regions, underscoring the need for proactive engagement to prevent crises with global repercussions.
This issue remains relevant today, particularly given the extensive Chinese and Russian engagement in Africa over the past two decades. Both countries have significantly increased their economic, political, and military influence on the continent, further complicating the geopolitical landscape and raising questions about the future of Western involvement in the region.