Piecemeal peace moves

The impetus behind the so far unsuccessful efforts to build an AU peacekeeping force for both Somalia and Darfur is the terrifying fear that a regional war could be ignited. Memories are still raw of Africa’s “World War” when the Great Lakes Region in the heart of Africa spawned a conflict that embroiled no less than nine states.
As Zaire imploded and its components broke apart into ethnic fiefdoms sponsored by various covetous neighbors, untold atrocities occurred at a rate of 1000 deaths a day. The mass graves in the provinces of Kivu and Ituri will bear witness. This conflict took an estimated 3 million lives in less than five years, until all participants - dictators, warlords and renegade commanders were finally brought to heel by a combination of battle fatigue and a robust UN mission which is distinctly different from other existing and proposed peacekeeping operations in Africa.

The current operation in the DRC, although described as a peacekeeping mission, is first and foremost a large fighting force possessing major firepower and mandated to engage armed groups while at the same time involved in reconstruction work.

What are the differences between the UN force in the DRC, the AU’s pathetic deployment in Darfur and the proposed one for Somalia? Some Crucial points are readily apparent, although each situation has its peculiarities and similarities not necessarily common to all.

The first one shall be brief but painful. It is simply that Darfur is a desolate wasteland much like Somalia is, while the DRC is one of the richest regions in the world.
The second important difference is political. All of the DRC’s neighbors were willing participants and stakeholders in the formation of a government of national unity. The naysayers were limited to a few armed groups and rag tag militias who shriveled away when they were deprived of safe havens.

The many ethnic groups in the DRC came to an accommodation with one another, thereby paving the way for an effective peacekeeping mission. This cannot be said for the Darfur situation which is exacerbated by a rigid central government, squabbling rebel groups and conflicting regional interests.
Were Darfur as lucky as south Sudan and had struck oil, the crisis would not have reached genocide proportions.

The Somalia situation is somewhat different as all three of its immediate neighbors view stability in Somalia with favor. Unfortunately, it seems that the Somalis are not ready for national dialogue and are repeatedly adding insult to injury by burning the flags of the good willed nations who wish to contribute peacekeepers.
It is hard to believe that 16 years of mayhem have not quenched the Somali lust for bloodshed.
The DRC operation received massive and readily available funding and an adequate number of troops, making it the largest ever UN mission. It is sad that the rich countries, now referred to as partners in these ‘politically correct’ days, have fallen over themselves to help stabilize mineral rich DRC but are dilly-dallying over Somalia and Darfur.
Each day the proposed peacekeeping force is delayed in deploying to Somalia is yet another day of suffering and an intensification of the strain in the horn region. If the complacency of the west is founded on the premise that a strong Ethiopia will not let things spiral out of control, then they are sorely mistaken.
For one thing, Ethiopia has concluded its military objectives. Domestic public opinion is all for withdrawing the troops and the nation’s economy can hardly sustain the mission.
We besiege the international community to get its act together and stop the hypocrisy of rendering rapid and effective assistance to naturally endowed regions and looking the other way as economically insignificant areas go up n flames.

We are tired of summits and consultations and talk of councils and more meaningless communiqués. We don’t want to hear of more strategy sessions. With all the military experts in abundance in Africa and elsewhere we fail to see why defining the force and budgetary requirements are made to appear like insurmountable challenges.
The DRC is a vast sub-continent of over 60 million diverse people. Surely, homogeneous Somalia and Darfur with a combined population of less then 10 million people do not present a challenge beyond global capabilities.