Connecting Community Security and DDR: Experiences from Eastern DRC

This report is based on 11 weeks of field research in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between September and December 2009. Its aim is to connect community security and Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes in a context specific way based on the insights of “Security Promotion in Fragile States: Can Local Meet National?” (Willems, Verkoren, Derks, Kleingeld, Frerks and Rouw, 2009) that was produced in the PSD network on community-based DDR. Through various approaches, such as focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observations a total of about 750 persons were interviewed in Ituri, and North and South Kivu.

The report opens with the background of the conflict in eastern DRC and the rounds of DDR programmes that were done in this context. As large-scale insecurity continues it has proved difficult in the past to disarm people and future attempts are being seriously hampered. Land conflicts, ethnic identities and the incapacity of the FARDC and MONUC to provide security are important sources feeding into insecurity.

Peace Security and Development Network 2010

This publication is an outcome of the in 2008 established ‘Network for Peace, Security and Development’. The Network aims to support and encourage the sharing of expertise and cooperation between the different Dutch sectors and organisations involved in fragile states. The PSD Network is an initiative under the Schokland Agreements in 2007.