Failing to Meet the Goals of the Objectives

In the Last two weeks Two Military Operations were brought to conclusions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These Operations had similar objectives. They were efforts to rein in the Militia Units that permeate the Eastern DRC. So how did these efforts pan out?

In December 2008 the Ugandan People's Defense Force (UPDF),FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the Army of GOSS (Government of Southern Sudan) launched an Operation in the area around the Garamba National Forest Called Operation Lightning Thunder. This Operation which was a result of Joseph Kony walking away from signing a Peace Accord with Kampala for the Second Time in 2008. It has also been revealed that AFRICOM provided Logisitcal Support to this Operation per Executive Order from President Bush.

This Operation which was plagued by Problems such as poor execution by the UPDF, Cronyism within the UPDF and the Fact that the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) knew the terrain better than the UPDF got off to a rocky start. The Initial Strikes hit empty LRA camps and the force broke down into smaller units. The First reports of reprisals by the LRA was the report of the Dorouma Attacks on Christmas day. Since that time at least 1,000 Civilians have perished in both the DRC and Sudan as a result of various attacks committed by the LRA.

The Criticism of this Operation was widespread. Media Outlets in the United States jumped on the fact that AFRICOM helped plan and provided Logistical Support for this effort. Independent Media Outlets were critical of the failure of the Allied Efforts to at first Capture Joseph Kony. Then it appeared that the goal was to seperate Kony and his leaders from the rank and file. Then it appeared that the Goal was to keep the LRA from Entering the Central African Republic. So if these were the goals then one can say that this mission failed.

Meanwhile to the South and East in the Kivu Provinces Another Military Operation was launched. This was was different due to the fact that the Rwandan Army was invited in and "cooperated"with the FARDC. The Goal of this Operation was to rein in the Militias from Rwanda that plague the Kivu Provinces. The Two Main Militias in the Provinces are the CNDP (National Committee for the Defense of the People) and the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda).

This Operation in the Kivus was conducted in a much shorter time frame than the one in the North. The Operations in the Garamba Area were conducted in a 90 day timeframe. The Kivu Operations were wrapped up in 30 Days. So why were there such an effort to wrap these Operations up in so short of time?

There is a fear that the Wars that Plagued the Country after the Death of President Mobutu could erupt again. The Country is still struggling to reemerge as a Democratic State after almost a Decade of War. Natural Resources have been exploited, Women have been subjected to Sexual Abuse on a scale that is mind-numbing. The Fact that the Congolese Government invited the Rwandan Forces in was a Factor in the resignation of the Speaker of the Congolese Parliament.

So did these Efforts achieve any of the success that they needed? On the Surface it doesn't appear so. The LRA is still in the area around the Garamba National Park. But MONUC (United Nations Mission in the Congo) is going to increase its presence in the area. The Situation in the Kivu Provinces has caused the President of Rwanda to state that he wants success in the DRC for a stable region. Is the President sincere or not that remains open to question however.

So what does the future pose for this troubled part of the World? As long as the Militias operate in the Eastern Part of the DRC then regional actors will probably give themselves the right to intervene in the DRC. Some of these Militias are conducting Proxy Wars on behalf of Governments that are in Power and were driven out of Power. Unless this issue is addressed then the other Vital Concerns such as the Exploitation of Natural Resources and the Sexual Mistreatment of Women will Continue unabated.

There have been calls for an increase in the US Engagement in this situation. Maybe it is not such a bad idea after all....

The Author Comments on US Policy Towards Africa and Publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet. Confused Eagle can be found at morganrights.tripod.com