Bachelor of Governance and International Relations

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https://scholar.ucu.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12311/124

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Browsing Bachelor of Governance and International Relations by Author "Dorcas Kwagala"

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    The influence of ethnic disputes on regional conflict: case of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
    (Uganda Christian University, 2026-05-07) Dorcas Kwagala
    Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced vast conflicts since 1996 with over 6 million estimated. The conflict is characterized by repetitive violence especially in the eastern regions which has attracted neighboring states and international actors. This study investigated the relationship between ethnic disputes and regional conflict in eastern DRC. Ethnic disputes such as land ownership, political representation and citizenship often serve as the immediate root causes of regional conflict. The main objective of this research was to identify the ethnic issues that fuel conflicts in the DRC. Other specific objectives included analyzing the mechanisms through which local disputes are escalated and sustained as conflicts in the DRC and understanding why peace building efforts led from above have failed and to suggest peace approaches that involve and empower local communities. Methodology: The study utilized the 2019/2026-Armed Conflict and Location Event Dataset and Uppsala Conflict Data Program. Both of them were cross-sectional studies that used data collected which used secondary data got by other researchers. The target population was in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri province especially among the locals. Results: Even though the DRC has experienced conflicts since the 1st and 2nd Congo wars, the 1994 Rwandan Genocide was the one that sparked off regional instability. Land disputes, ethnic tensions, resource competition and cross-border intervention. The relative weights assigned reflect the proportional emphasis across the secondary literature reviewed, including ACLED (2026) event data and Chigudu’s (2025) structural analysis. Resource competition and land disputes emerge as the dominant drivers, though all the four are deeply interconnected, as the preceding sections have demonstrated. The analysis that follows examines how these drivers reinforce one another within a single self-perpetuating conflict system. Conclusion: Ethnic disputes are exacerbated by different factors. Addressing these challenges is essential not only for lowering regional conflict but also improving the peace building mechanisms, prioritizing initiatives that bridge the gap between local and regional dimensions, and also monitoring the dynamics. Policy recommendations: Some policy recommendations could include deepening inclusive, multi-track peace and conflict transformation, future research should longitudinally assess the influence of these locally driven interventions, addressing the resource and economic drivers of conflict, safeguarding and improving multilateral peace operations among others.