Download Combating Government Corruption in Decolonized Nations

Catherine Weeden
Monroe High School
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fourth Main Committee
Combating Government Corruption in Decolonized Nations
Although originally colonized 10,000 years ago, The Democratic Republic of the Congo was
formally colonized by Belgium King Leopold II until independence was declared in the 1960s.
Eventual elections produced “pro-western” ideals through the election of Joseph Kasavubu as
President, Patrice Lumamba as Prime Minister, and the laying down of democratic structure.
Europeans still in the country for business reasons began to increase in number. Slowly, provinces
of the DRC began to file independence. Coups broke out throughout the country, and the United
Nations was first involved when they sent in 20,000 peacekeepers to protect the European
residents. According to the Report of the British Consul, when the second province announced
independence, the Prime Minister contacted Khrushchev of the USSR who then provided “advanced
weaponry and technical advisors”.
The United States used its power to allow for the United Nations to block shipments of arms
into the DRC. Eventually, the result of decolonization from Belgium led to an unstable government
in which the governments of the USSR and United States exploited in their Cold War tactics.
Belgium, United States and USSR governments subjugated the Congo and influenced in some way
with the fall of the government.
Since the 1960’s bands of Congolese have formed for political, religious and ethnic reasons.
The location of the Congo in the heart of Rwanda and Uganda influenced the development of
instability and corruption within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tutsi-led governments of
Rwanda allied with the Zairian armed forces and “launched a campaign against Congolese ethnic
Tutsis in eastern Zaire” (“Africa/Armies ‘strike at Uganda Rebels” BBC News 2008). Zaire was the
name for the DRC until 1997. The continuous fighting and lack of governmental control fueled the
tensions for the people of the Congo.
The DRC remains a fragile state in need of assistance from the United Nations to protect the
Human Rights of the people under persistent corrupt rule. Democratic Forces for the Liberation of
Rwanda continue to threaten the borders as well as the Ituri clan and the Mai-Mai of Kenshasa.
Although partnering with Uganda and South Sudan, the DRC continues to battle the Lord’s
Resistance Army within the country. Massacres continue to occur of the Congolese people without a
tight rein on the government. History repeats itself within the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
the people are the direct recipients of the injustice brought about with the unstable, corrupt
governments surrounding the country and often within the country itself. Henceforth, we propose
that the United Nations implement restrictions of representation in the UN of the nations
surrounding the DRC to hinder the outbreaks and corruption that they foment in the Congolese
government.