Armed Non-State Actors in Eastern DRC and Diplomatic Relations in the Great Lakes Region

Abstract

Armed non-state actors (ANSAs) are one of the most consistent threats to peace, security, and diplomacy in weak states, although their influence on interstate relations is a debated phenomenon. This paper discusses the implications of ANSAs on the diplomatic relations in the Great Lakes Region (GLR), especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the other neighbours, Uganda and Rwanda. Even though the activities of such groups as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (DFLR), the March 23 Movement (M23), and the Mai-Mai militias are commonly associated with the destabilization of the region, it is not clear how much the actions of these groups cause diplomatic tensions rather than merely being an instrument of the states. The study uses the mixed-methods design, survey data, interviews, and secondary sources to question these dynamics. The results have shown that ANSAs are politically, economically, ethnically, and ideologically oriented, and the economic factors, especially illegal mining and smuggling, have become prevailing. However, not only are their cross-border movement, territorial domination, and violent operations a challenge to the sovereignty, but they also expose deeper structural vulnerabilities in regional governance and immoral trust processes. The regional and international organizations are still involved but limited by a lack of vigorous enforcement and conflicting interests of the member states, which creates doubts about the efficiency of multilateral responses. Civil society may seem to be the most important in the mediation of tensions; however, it does not necessarily participate in formal diplomacy. The conclusion part of the study is terminated with recommendations, which include collaboration of the regions, intelligence sharing, collective military approaches, dialogue with the community and external assistance as possible solutions to sustainable diplomatic relations within the GLR.