Topic: Congo
Country: Guatemala
Delegate Name: Breanna Ward
School: Flint Central Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Guatemala position papers GLIMUN 2007 committees
The nation of Guatemala is deeply concerned with the current conflicts and events taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo currently. Since the conflict in the area began in August 1998, some progress has been made, but there is still more to be made. With a location practically in the middle of the African continent and its large size, peace in the DRC has the potential to resolve a sufficient amount of issues throughout the continent. The main issue in the DRC began with the control of resources, yet the transition to democracy has, for the most part, successfully taken place. There are two main rebel groups within the nation; the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo and Congolese Rally for Democracy, or the RDC. With all of the violence throughout the nation, the death toll has surpassed 3.3 million and more than 3.4 million Congolese are displaced from their homes, many in areas where aid can not reach. On a positive note, the nation did hold its first democratic elections in June 2007.
Due to Guatemala’s current economic state, monetary aid to the DRC is basically impossible. The nation of Guatemala however is in support of the peace keeping troops which are stationed throughout the nation of the DRC. The nation of Guatemala currently does have military troops stationed in the Congo region for peace keeping purposes.
The nation of Guatemala would obviously like to see the violence ending and the rebel groups dismantled. Also, the nation feels that justice should be served, punishing those who terrorized the vulnerable Congolese people, especially the women of the DRC. The nation of Guatemala feels that more needs to be done to stop these rebel groups which terrorize the people of the Congo. The use of more peace keeping troops especially in the eastern region of the country.
