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Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Prospects

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Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Prospects ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T The International Peace Support Training Centre Nairobi, Kenya Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Prospects OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, No2 LT. COL. DONATIEN NDUWIMANA Enhancing Capacity for Regional Peace and Security through Peace Operations Training ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 ii/ii NM T ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Prospects OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, No2 2013 ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T Compiled by IPSTC Peace and Security Research Department © 2013 International Peace Support Training Centre All Rights Reserved No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means; mechanical, via photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior permission from the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC). Statements and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily the views of IPSTC, Nairobi, Kenya. Published by International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) P.O. Box 24232 – 00502 Karen, Kenya Tel: 254 20 388 3157/58 Fax: 254 20 388 3159 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ipstc.org ISBN: 978-9966-025-12-8 Edited by: Prof. Peter Kagwanja Design, layout and printing: Noel Creative Media Ltd. Cover Photos: IPSTC OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, NO.2 iv ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T Foreword The International Peace Support Training Center (IPSTC) has made considerable contribution in research and training on peace support issues in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. The centre is a training and research institution focusing on capacity building at the strategic, operational and tactical levels within the African Peace and Security Architecture and has developed to be the regional center for the African Standby Force (ASF) in Eastern Africa. It addresses the complexities of contemporary UN/AU integrated Peace Support Operations through exposing actors to the multi-dimensional nature of these operations. The research conducted covers a broad spectrum ranging from conflict prevention, management, and post conflict reconstruction. The Peace and Security Research Department (PSRD) of the IPSTC presents Occasional Paper Series 4 of (2013) on various themes on peace and conflict situation in Eastern Africa. IPSTC produced seven Occasional Papers in 2013. Five of them focused on Somalia while the others dealt with drivers of conflict and integration of child soldiers in eastern DRC. Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Challenges and Prospects, provides insight into the plight of children in conflict proneEastern Democratic Republic of Congo. These papers provide insight into pertinent peace and security issues in the region that are useful to policy makers. These publications also provide significant contribution to the security debate and praxis in the region. The research products from IPSTC have been developed by researchers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda and will inform the design of training modules at IPSTC. This Occasional Paper is an important contribution to the vision and mission of IPSTC. The research and publication of this Occasional Paper has been made possible by the support of the Government of Japan through UNDP and the European Union. Brig. Robert Kabage Director, IPSTC v OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, NO.2 ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T International Peace Support Training Center (IPSTC) The International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) is an international center of excellence in peace support operations training and research focusing on capacity building at the strategic, operational and tactical levels within the African Peace and Security Architecture. IPSTC is the regional training center for the African Standby Force (ASF) in Eastern Africa. It addresses the complexities of contemporary UN/ AU integrated Peace Support Operations through exposing actors to the multi- dimensional nature of these operations. The Research Department of the IPSTC undertakes research for two main purposes: a) the design of training curricula to support peace operations, and b) to contribute to the debate towards the enhancement of regional peace and security. The Peace and Security Research Department (PSRD) develops annual occasional papers and issue briefs covering diverse themes from the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. The 2013 Occasional Papers cover diverse topics in regional peace and security including the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia. PSRD’s Research Agenda is traditionally comprehensive and addresses issues related to a variety of regional issues. The research conducted covers a broad spectrum of peace and security concerns ranging from conflict prevention, management, and post conflict reconstruction. IPSTC has made considerable contribution in research and training on peace support issues in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. The Target audiences for our publications are the decision makers in key peace and security institutions in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. These include policy makers in national security sector such as internal security, defence, judiciary and parliament and regional institutions dealing with conflict prevention and management such as East African Community (EAC), Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), International Conference of the Great Lakes region (ICGLR), Regional Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA), African Union, Embassies of key development partners with special interests in regional peace and security issues and the United Nations agencies in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. Occasional Papers are an important contribution to the vision and mission of IPSTC. The research and publication of this Occasional Paper has been made possible by the support of the Government of Japan through UNDP and the European Union. OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, NO.2 vi ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................vi Abbreviations .........................................................................................vii Abstract .................................................................................................viii 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................1 1.2 Problems statement ..................................................................2 1.3 Objectives of the Study...........................................................2 1.4 Methodology .............................................................................3 1.5 Literature Review ......................................................................3 1.6 Theoretical Framework ...........................................................4 2.0 Overview of Child Soldiers in the DRC .........................................6 2.1 Causes of Child Soldiers in DRC ..........................................6 2.2 Effects of Child Soldiers ........................................................7 2.3 Girls Child Soldiers ..................................................................8 3.0 Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Child Soldiers in DRC: Study Findings ....................................................................10 3.1 Different Actors and their Activities ..................................10 3.2 Disarmament, Demobilization Rehabilitation and Reintegration ...........................................................................14 4.0 Challenges of Effective Reintegration in DRC ......................... 18 4.1 Lack of Long-term Financing .............................................18 4.2 Security Situation in DRC .....................................................18 4.3 The Problem of Re-recruitment .........................................18 4.4 Opportunities for Effective Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Eastern DRC ............................................19 4.5 Implementation of International Laws ..............................20 4.6 Determination of UN and Humanitarian Agencies ........20 4.7 The Presence of MONUSCO .............................................21 4.8 The Defeat of M23 ................................................................21 5.0 Conclusion ............................................................................................. 22 5.1 Recommendations ..................................................................22 Reference ................................................................................................24 Annexes: Annex 1: A Map of Eastern DRC .............................27 Annex 2: Child Soldiers Demobilized by MDRP ......................28 vii OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, NO.2 ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5 21-07-2017 31/31 NM T Acknowledgements I would like to sincerely thank all those who, in one way or another, made this work possible. These include the IPSTC Director, Staff, the Peace and Security Research Department (PSRD) and all those people who made time to be interviewed on the different aspects of this research. OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 4, NO.2 viii ICC-01/04-01/06-3344-Anx5
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