Governance Practices and Sustainable Peace in North Kivu Province, DR Congo

Abstract

This research was conducted in North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its overarching objective was to examine the influence of governance practices on sustainable peace. In particular, the research aimed to assess the influence of the rule of law, public accountability, government responsiveness, and the moderating effects of conflict resolution mechanisms in relation to governance practices and sustainable peace in North Kivu Province. Under chapter two, the research was guided by five key theories, notably, rule of law theory, stewardship theory, government responsiveness theory, functionalism theory, and peace research theory. It also reviewed literature related to the research variables, and provided the research gap. In regards to the methodology, the research followed a positivist philosophy and employed experimental research design. The study population was 744000 inhabitants; the sample size of 382 respondents was obtained using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula. Unit of observation were: academicians, judges/advocates, members of civil society, members from non-governmental organizations, and members from the business community, university students, and citizens. Questionnaires was the main tool used to collect data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. A series of diagnostic tests, including tests for multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, normality, linearity, and outliers, were conducted on the research variables. The results of each test were presented with relevant statistical conclusions. Open-ended questions were cleaned, coded, identified under each theme or variable, analysed according to the sentiment of the responses and interpreted under each research variable. Under chapter four, data analysis plan for the study consisted of two main components. First, descriptive statistics were analysed, and the data were presented in consideration of the maximum and minimum percentages from the five-point liker scale, mean and standard deviation. Second, inferential statistical analysis was conducted through linear correlation, and multivariate and linear regression analysis, revealing positive correlations between all independent variables and the dependent variable. The overall model was deemed satisfactory, as the independent variables explained 76.8% of the variations in the dependent variable. The results indicated that the overall model was statistically significant, leading to the rejection of all null hypotheses. The research findings underscored that governance practices, including the rule of law, public accountability, government responsiveness, and government effectiveness, are lacking in North Kivu, contributing to the province's ongoing lack of peace. Summary of the findings, conclusions, recommendations and further areas of studies were provided under chapter five. Recommendations included among other, government of the DR Congo should endeavour to work towards resolving the ongoing armed conflict with M23/AFC armed as a primary step to peace; as a result of conflict resolution process, the government should commit itself to implementing the existing policies on demobilization, disarmament, reintegration of ex-combatants and ensure their sustainable restoration into civil life; The presence of the government, public administration services including an efficient National Police Service and modern army should be established and strengthened to promptly respond and address the needs of the population for peace effectively; interagency coordination practices should be established and strengthened for quick response to restoring sustainable peace. On medium term, military and civilian justice systems should be strengthened xvii and public Oversight Authority set up to ensure respect and application of rule of law at the province level; existing public accountability mechanisms should be strengthened with robust mandate to ensure accountability between public services and the population; the National Police Service, the Army, and civilian and military justice systems in North Kivu should be strengthened by increasing the number of prosecution offices and courts, augmenting the count of prosecutors and judges, and providing them with essential financial, logistical resources, and protection to effectively carry out their responsibilities as well as putting in place mechanisms that ensure that laws, policies and regulations are adhere to by everyone. In regards to long term perspectives, the government of the DR Congo should adopt and implement measures to strengthen local capacity with the focus on addressing root caused and key driving factors of recurrent conflict and fragility in North Kivu province; Community level dialogue processes, institutions and structures and other proactive measures should be established and strengthened towards reconciliation, social cohesion and sustaining peace; the central government of DR Congo in general and the provincial government in particular should adopt policy and strategies that emphasize the need to prevent outbreak, recurrence, continuation and escalation of conflict prevention national and provincial government of DR Congo and the government to benchmark from civil society’s work to develop national policies on community dialogue, reconciliation and recovery for conflict prevention and transformation