Organizational Politics and United Nations Mission of Stabilization in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Study of Ituri Province
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Date
2024
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Abstract
This study aimed at assessing the impact of organizational politics on the United Nations Mission of Stabilization in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The specific objectives were to analyze how organizational procedures and principles affects United Nations Mission of Stabilization; to examine the impact of political environment on the United Nations Mission of Stabilization; and to analyze the effects of human behavior on the United Nations Mission of Stabilization in Ituri Province, DR-Congo. The study employed a qualitative approach because the data obtained were expressed in non-numerical terms. The qualitative approach was based on the computation of biographical data. Primary data was collected from the respondents through interviews. Secondary data for the study included information collected from the local government departments and intelligence services, organization recorded documents, earlier studies and publications on United Nations and organizational politics. Findings showed that United Nations Mission of Stabilization helped in stabilizing areas affected by war and insecurity; they were involved in micro-level programs such as providing information on the importance of gender in the democratic process. MONUSCO’s legitimacy, impartiality and credibility have oscillated significantly over time, and the perception of these characteristics has also varied across the Congolese territory. The Mission’s mandate of protecting civilians generated a wave of goodwill and hope among Congolese populations. However, the relations between MONUSCO and Congolese government have not always been easy and this has weakened their effort to bring peace and deter violence in conflicting areas of Ituri province. Difficulties in task prioritization and inadequate management of expectations by the Mission itself, due to behind scenes politics, have contributed towards the Mission’s loss of legitimacy, impartiality and credibility in front of the Congolese people. Thus, the study concluded that the UN mission in DRC provided not only increasing abilities in the military realm, contributing to overall high capacities but also gave many civilians in the DRC a perception on Monusco’s strong abilities. Based on the findings, the study; recommended that there should be Civil-Military cooperation with the local communities to engage in should be made in the UN Peacekeeping Operations for efficiency and effectiveness of the UN missions. the UN operations in the affected area for the mission to be done effectively. Besides, viable reforms should be made in the UN Peacekeeping Operations for efficiency and effectiveness of the UN missions.