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Re-Evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a Case Study in Dongo Wilita Sanguma Wdsanguma@Usfca.Edu The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Master's Theses Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects Fall 12-14-2012 Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Wilita Sanguma [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/thes Part of the African Languages and Societies Commons, African Studies Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Conflict of Laws Commons, Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, International Relations Commons, Law and Politics Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons Recommended Citation Sanguma, Wilita, "Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo" (2012). Master's Theses. 50. https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/50 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of San Francisco Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Wilita D Sanguma 2012 Masters of Arts International Studies Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo University of San Francisco Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo A Research Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences Master’s Program in International Studies In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Masters of Arts in International Studies By Wilita Dennis-Park Sanguma November 2012 1 Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Table of Contents Acknowledgement……………………………………………………..........................................6 Abstract………………………………………………………………….......................................7 Chapter I: Introduction…………………………………………………….................................8 Background……………………………………………………………............................10 Problem………………………………………………………………..............................11 Thesis Case Study……………………………………………………..............................12 Research Thesis Question………………………………………......................................13 Purpose of Study……………………………………………………................................13 Limitations……………………………………………….................................................14 Significance……………………………………………………………............................14 Chapter II: Literature Review……………………………………………………....................17 Introduction…………………………………………........................................................17 Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………......................19 The Interconnectedness of Discourse, Identity, and Human Needs…..............................20 Discourse………………………………………………………............................20 Identity………………………………………………….......................................22 Human Needs…………………………………………………………….............23 The Impacts of Discourse, Identity, and Human Needs on Local Struggles in Congo.....24 Local Disputes, Crisis of Belonging…………………………..............................24 Identity and Conflict………………………………………..................................25 The Importance of Local Struggles………………………………........................28 Failure to Recognize Local Struggles…………………....................................................29 2 Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Conclusion……………………………………………………………….........................30 Contribution of this Thesis……………………………………………………….............31 Chapter III: Methodology……………………………………………………...........................33 Introduction……………………………………………………………............................33 Setting/Sample Participants…………………………………………………...................33 Measurement Instrument/ Data Collection…………………………………....................35 Literature Research…………………………………………………....................35 Oral Interviews…………………………………………………………...............35 Extended Case Method…………………………………………………..............38 Data Analysis……………………………………………………………….....................39 Sources Covering the Dongo Conflict………………………………………...................39 Chapter IV: Context………………………………………………………................................41 History of Violence…………………………………………………………....................41 The Impact on Dongo…………………………………………………............................44 The Congo Wars…………………………………………………………........................47 First Congo War, 1996-1998……………………………………….................................47 Second Congo War, 1998-2003………………………………………………………….48 Impacts of the Wars on Dongo Conflict………………………………………................49 Peacebuilding Process………………………………………………………....................52 Failure to Promote a Lasting Peace……………………………………...........................54 The Importance of Dongo to the Peacebuilding Efforts………………………................55 Conclusion………………………………………………………………….....................56 Chapter V: Research Case Study……………………………………………….......................57 3 Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Odjani’s Quest for Power……………………………………………………...................57 Introduction………………………………………………………………………............59 Context of Ethnic Groups within the Dongo Region……………………….....................59 Major Ethnic Groups in Dongo before Colonization ………………………........60 Creation of Ethnic Tension……………………………………………................62 Context of the Enyele and Munzaya Conflict……………………………………............64 The Settlement………………………………………………………...................65 Fear, Respect, and Peace Agreement……………………………….....................66 The Enyele and Munzaya Conflict……………………………………............................68 The Origin of the Conflict………………………………………………………..68 The Development of the Conflict……………………………………..................69 Inability to Reach Peace, Corruption…………………………………….............72 The Dongo Conflict………………………………………………...................................75 Discourse and Odjani’s Power Accumulation…………………...........................75 Impact of the Congo Wars………………………………………….....................77 Manipulation, Perpetuation of Conflict ………………………………................78 The Dongo Massacre…………………………………………….........................80 The Rebellion against the State…………………………………..........................81 The Peacebuilding Process in Dongo…………………………………………................82 Preparation for Reconciliation Ceremony………………………….....................83 The Peace Dialogue…………………………………...........................................84 Munzaya and Enyele Reconciliation Process………………………………....................88 The Munzaya-Enyele Peace Dialogue…………………………...........................89 4 Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Analysis of the Peacebuilding Process……………………………………......................92 Current Dynamic of Dongo…………………………………………...............................94 Poverty…………………………...........................................................................95 Corruption in Dongo……………………………………………..........................97 Lack of Trust in Authority…………………………………………….................99 Conclusion……………………………………………………………...........................100 Chapter VI: Discussion………………………………………………….................................101 Identity and its Effect on Violence………………………………………......................101 Dongo Peace Process…………………………………………………...........................104 Revelations of the Dongo Conflict……………………………………..........................104 Chapter VII: Conclusion/Recommendations……………………………………..................107 Reference List……………………………………………………………………….................110 General Sources……………………………………………………………...................110 Sources Covering the Dongo Conflict……………………….........................................113 Appendices…………………………………………………………………..............................116 Appendix A: The Democratic Republic of Congo Map………………..........................117 Appendix B: Democratic Republic of Congo, Equateur Province, Sud-Ubangi District, Dongo Map………………………………………………………..................................118 Appendix C: Major Ethnic Groups Involved in the Dongo Conflict…….......................119 Appendix D: Interviewee Demographic………..............................................................120 Appendix E: Timeline…………………………………………......................................121 5 Re-evaluating Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A case study in Dongo Acknowledgements I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Karen Bouwer for her unfailing support. I am blessed to have had her as a thesis advisor. Her constructive feedback and her ability to challenge my perspective taught me that through hard work and dedication, all is possible. My warmest thanks go to her for providing guidance, support, and encouragement throughout my work. On a personal note, I would like to thank my many families and friends for their loving support. Thank you for believing in me even when I did not. Your unfailing love inspired me to continue to work hard. I am truly blessed to have such loving people in my life. Although I am unable to list every name, I would like to extend my dearest gratitude to my parents, Mossai and Sabuli Sanguma.
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