Stabilizing State Fragility in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia

What is it about?

Peacekeeping stabilization missions deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia are supposed to restore state authority in both countries. However both counties can be categorized as fragile states due to their weak governance institutions and their inability to adequate provide security to their populations and territories. The missions instead enhance protracted conflict and insecurity because they are unable to counter armed groups, which portray themselves as insurgents to gain legitimacy at the grassroots level. The legitimacy gained by the armed groups adversely affects the capacity of the missions to restore state authority in both countries.

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Why is it important?

The article explains how stabilisation missions enhance rather than mitigate state fragility in fragile states. There is thus the need to reconsider the way the mandates of such missions are formulated and implemented so as to address the root causes of state fragility.