Topic: Congo
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Alicia Stickroe
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Denmark position papers GLIMUN 2007 committees
Violence and war have been a part of the Congolese society since the Democratic Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960. The Force Publique was a major contributor to post independence violence. Recently however, the violence has gotten worse. With a steady flow of refugees from Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been an area of civil war and ethnic strife. These Rwandan rebels sparked rebels within the Congo to overthrow then leader Mobutu Sese Seko, starting the first of two Congo wars. With thousands dying each day, the violence has yet to cease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Kingdom of Denmark believes that the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo needs to cease.
One of the possible actions that could be taken to prevent the violence is to send United Nations troops into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While located in the heart of Africa, the troops would ensure that rebel groups do not create an uprising that could cause bloodshed or any other form of violence.
Coupled with violence the Congo is also victim to recent economic decline. In the last decade two wars have occurred in the DRC, leaving a path of destruction behind, stopping the national output and government revenue, which in turn increased the external debt of the country.
An alternative to sending troops into the Congo would be offering economic aid to help the country get out of its economic decline.
Denmark is a strong supporter of economic aid, giving 2.13 billion dollars toward economic aid each year. According to a 1970 UN conference all of the industrialized member states were supposed to give 0.7 percent of their incomes to countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Denmark is one of only five countries to achieve this goal. To improve the situation in the Congo all of the industrialized countries should be asked do follow the example of the Kingdom of Denmark.
In order to end the violence in the DRC troops and or economic aid must be sent to restore Order in the Congo.
