South Africa and peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 1996 – 2016 : probing the attitudes of Congolese refugees in Durban.
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Date
2016
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Abstract
This study is anchored on the crisis of Congolese refugees that is taking an astronomical
proportion in South Africa. While in different parts in South Africa Congolese refugees may
initiate actions that may fuel the magnitude of a new or the ongoing conflict on one hand, and
those that may transform and end war the DRC’s war. The study probes the views and
insights of the Congolese refugees on South Africa’s peacebuilding interventions in the
DRC’s conflict and contends that South Africa can draw from the views, insights and
perception of Congolese refugees as another alternative of bolstering its current peace
building interventions in the DRC.
The study draws heavily on data gathered from four (4) focus group discussions and 58 in-depth
interviews (comprising mainly, the Congolese scholars and civil rights activists in
Durban). The study uses conflict transformation and realism theories. From a conflict
transformation perspective, the study argues that drawing from the views and insights of the
Congolese refugees may bolster an all-encompassing South African peacebuilding
intervention in the DRC’s conflict. On the other hand, through the tenets of realism, study
argues that South Africa can draw from the insights of the Congolese refugees as one way of
achieving its dominant interests of having a stable DRC and Africa.
Through a survey of scholarship on the link between refugees and conflict transformation, the
findings of this study reveals that the inclusion of the views and insights of Congolese
refugees in its peacebuilding interventions may earn South Africa respect on the continent as
a country that respects the contribution of refugees in peacebuilding. This may advance South
Africa’s interest of taking the lead in peace operations in Africa. However, the study also
reveals that by participating in peacebuilding while pushing for more economic relations with
DRC, the South Africa’s interventions in the DRC’s conflict can be termed as a predatory and
exploitative way of the economics of war. For instance, the Inga Dam, agriculture and the
abundance of mineral resources to which some South African companies own mining rights,
underscores a realist argument that any intervening state intervenes in a conflict country in
pursuit of its national interests.
The findings of this study also reveal that, by drawing on the views of the marginalised non-state
actors like Congolese refugees in its peacebuilding interventions in the DRC, South
Africa may fulfill its desire of avoiding spill-overs from the effects of the war in the form of the incessant influx of Congolese refugees. An end to war in the DRC may be one way of
furthering economic interests of the South African business segments.
Having taken note that the major findings of the study revolve around contentious primary
issues relating to the role of Congolese refugees within South Africa’s peacebuilding
interventions, a number of recommendations are made. These include:
1. Establishment of refugees’ resource centres as a new approach of mitigating their
forgotten role in peacebuilding processes.
2. Clarification of the conflicting interests of South Africa’s peacebuilding interventions
in the DRC.
3. Inclusion of other non-state actors in South Africa’s peacebuilding interventions.
Finally, a paradigm shift is needed in the conceptualization of what constitutes conflict
transformation more so peacebuilding interventions. This includes a new theoretical thinking
based on gaining vital views, insights and perspectives from non-state actors like Congolese
refugees in South Africa.
Description
Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.
Keywords
Refugees -- South Africa., Peacebuilding -- Congo (Democtratic Republic)., Souh Africa -- foreign relations -- Democratic Republic of Congo., Congolese (Democratic Republic) -- Relocation -- South Africa.