It''s always amazing to realize how long some attrocities have continued without pause. Today we can name quite a few that threaten local populations. Admittedly, I have never lived in a region where genocide on the magnitude of Northern Kivu was happening only miles away. It feels surreal, and quite frankly, knowing the history of Goma and North Kivu has changed quite a few things in my outlook on Africa. But, I still believe positive change can be acheived.
Many believed that the region was a peaceful, modern place to live, visit or invest. Somehow the unspeakable horrors happening to humans in North Kivu were erased. It leaves one with lingering sentiments of guilt, saddness and shame--even when one is merely a bystander. . . Because, can anyone truly be a bystandar where an open genocide is in progress? There is a deep and desperate grasping in the soul to hold on to one's own humanity in such instances. And so, genocide cannot be overlooked.
It is why we must not forget Sudan or Gaza. And it is why we must stand up for Congo. . . . And perhap we can stand up in different ways than what we have done in the past? Surely thete are ways that could work to keep people safe, protect sovereignity; ensure better supply chains and renumeration for resources? Therefore, let us be faithful to find those solutions for Congo.
We must find solutions to a genocide that began almost immediately after a major French-led UN Peacekeeping intervention in Rwanda in 1994. Congo is facing a 30-year genocide that has been festering without adequate remedy, even after a UN Peacekeeping Mission on its soil, military contractors and several rounds of peace talks. Men with Guns are not always the answer and talks with staunch rebel tribalists often fall flat. At some point, a different solution has to be made that creates a synergy with all available tools and resources of the state, international partners and allies. Different variables are necessary for different outcomes.
Enter the holistic process one that honors humanity and creates safe boundaries that protect. Now is the time for the builders, the strategists and the healers along with valiant men in uniform to help them achieve peace. The people within the worldwide community who seek a civil international society and win-win outcomes understand that peace comes with processes. We know that brave souls of goodwill exist, because they vote in UN Assembly for just solutions, they create amazing organizations that provide healing and cure, they speak out, they feed the hungry, they help the deprived and they strategize methods of peaceful co-existence. So let us begin with Six Win-Win Solutions Toward Change in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
A Permemant Neutral Zone
Congo needs a heavily guarded militarized zone between it and its neighbors to eliminate all threat and create a haven of safety. This means aid and UN intervention looks like contributions to create a militarized neutral zone and not just soldiers and rice. Neutral zones and militarized areas seem draconian, but they actually prevent casualties and confusions about borders. A militarized neutral zone can be a double barrier electric wire fence with a mapped mine field between the two fences. There can be a few kilometers/a mile between electrified fences with sentinels and dogs along with checkpoints and periodic foot and drone patrols multiple times a day. This double barrier perimeter should run the length of the territory of any problematic regional actors. Let international states that send guns and rice instead send building supplies, engineers and security devices.
Safe Border Crossing Protocals
The DR Congo can map specific entry points along its neutral zone, where full security checks can be conducted for humans and cargo. Every person crossing in or out at the neutral zone may be registered and products inspected. The pocess should require checkpoint operators to take a digital photo of the entrant, record ID/Passport information, date, time of entry, time of exit, language spoken and tribe. AI technology can help weed out problematic characters through checkpoint database. Acknowledging and recording tribes will be necessary, because the current conflict has a tribal component. And those who ascribe to violent tribal tendencies can be weeded out like neo-nazis and violent religious extremists. A database can be created to help understand crossing traffic.
Neighborhood Safety Patrols
Get people involved in their own success. Empower people to make a diference in thwir communities abd villages. Youth and available men/women can be organized in village brigades of 4-5 men, trained in martial arts and armed with a baton, mace, plastic zip handcuffs and a torchlight. These men can recieve a small stipend for their duties as well as special village recognition.
The Village Patrol team would consist of about 20-30 men who meet monthly to discuss patrol plans, village security, problems and challenges and submit a monthly report to comunity leaders. Divided into day and night shifts 8-10 men would be on duty evey day. 4-5 men would create a patrol circuit through their village and patrol in 4-hour intervals. The day shift will retire to allow the night shift to commence. In this way, the community is actively involved in its own safety. The switching of teams monthly will prevent burnout and create a level of accountabiliy for team members to each other and the community. Recognitions for outstanding service and other accolades can be had at special year-end ceremonies with speakers, performance, celebrations, formal attire and plaques for service.
Reconnect Communities and Commerce
Special effort should be made to resettle IDPs, but also to revitalize communities via the profits earned from natural resources. While the state is free to nationalize its resources, it may be better to connect a portion of the profit to local communities. This can happen in a number of ways. However, private mining companies may be mandated to deposit a percentage of profits from resources into community funds. The community fund can have a two-pronged approach, managed by separate accounts to ensure citizens benefit.
For example, profits from a company like Barrick Gold might result in a quarterly pecentage payout to the DRC for $6 million USD. The national government and the province may negoriate a 50/50 payout split between the federal government and the province.
The payout will act as an automatic quarterly debit for the mining company. The DRC government will recieve a payout of $3 Million to be used as government appropriates it. But $3 Million will also be deposited into two community accounts. One account will be managed by local provincial officials for the benefit of the province: city works, salaries, scholarships, security and etc. and the other account pays out a stipend to every adult citizen within the province. In a 66/33 split (citizens/province), citizens will recieve a quarterly credit in their account from the $2 million deposited in the citizen fund which allocates cash deposits for provincial residents. Credits may be routed to bank accounts, savings or mobile money wallets.
Provinces may also create a sovereign wealth fund for a number of uses, not excluding education, scholarships, entreprenurial loans and investment portfolios. Also, each Province may own shares or stock within companies that extract resources in the Province. Proceeds from sale of stock and capital gains can be deposited into the sovereign wealth funds.
Develop Efficient Supply Chains
This is an area where Congo can shine. In creating a meaningful supply chain, it can direct excavated resources via an orderly, legal process. Through consultation with logistics leaders in the inyernational space, Congo can create a supply chain that works. From creating a cargo airport, new roads, truck stops and a done base, Congo can begin creating pathways of industry. Communities cn be protected by creating aerial briges and authorized personnel zones. Staff training and certification centers may be opened to equip local people to operate the new supply chain through Agile, project management, communications, client languages (English, Mandarin, Russian, German, etc) and any other necessary skills.
Reorganize and Heal Communities
Genocide and ethnic violence can have a shattering effect on communities. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is no different. Such events can cause deep resentment, distrust and fear. Rather than erase cultual and tribal difference as some have done in the past--it is better to honor the humanity of every individual and community. This can be done with cultural and tribal celebrations that provide a holiday or week to celebrate and remember each ohers humanity and learn about tribes and communities that are different from your own.
This can happen through a multi-day or one-day national or provincial holiday which includes festivities organized by community leaders. Finacial resources should be released every holiday for festivities, food, special speakers, celebrations and music. Dignitaries can be unvited as well as international peace orgnizations. A museum of peace, cultural appreciation and atonement can be created.
Addtionally, resources should be allocated for medical care and mental health services. Trained counsellors should be installed at schools and places of worship and offer weekly sessions for community members, students and children to attend.
Conclusion:
Congo can heal itself through careful planning and support from its citizens, soldiers, buiness partner, allies and caring people from the international community. There are solutions. We must simply find them and use them. The violent, piracy element must be removed. It is not necessary. We can do better. To silence the guns, we must start with finding answers for people, processes and products. There is no better time to start than today
#HealCongo
CongoIsBleeding
#OneLoveOneCongo🇨🇩
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