Chronic Crisis in Eastern Congo December 3, 2008

Host: American Enterprise Institute. The escalation of fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has brought one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises back to the attention of international policymakers. In response, the United Nations (UN) Security Council has authorized three thousand additional troops to reinforce the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. Last week, U.S. senators Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) passed a joint resolution that called for an immediate cease-fire, highlighting the bipartisan support for more effective U.S. leadership in the region. But even if additional forces can be generated, military might alone is unlikely to end the crisis. What are the underlying causes of the chronic crisis in Eastern Congo, and what further steps might U.S. policymakers take to create a lasting solution?

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