The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), scarred by decades of post-colonial turmoil, remains a crucible of geopolitical intrigue. Since independence from Belgium in 1960, the DRC has endured cycles of instability fueled by predatory foreign interventions, weak governance, and a paradox of vast mineral wealth. From Cold War-era proxy conflicts to 1990s resource-driven wars, external actors have exploited the DRC’s fragility to pursue strategic and economic interests. The Congo’s instability is a microcosm of international rivalries, with its mineral wealth and strategic location drawing competing powers. These external interventions, framed as security or development concerns, exacerbate the DRC’s fragility and spill over into the Horn of Africa, where countries like Sudan and Somalia face increased militarization. Ethiopia, emerging from civil strife, uses peacekeeping in Congo as a diplomatic tool to project strength and reclaim credibility. However, this effort risks diverting resources from domestic recovery.

Foreign Involvement in the Congo: Interests, Strategies, and Humanitarian Consequences

The DRC has long been a target for external actors employing political, economic, and security strategies. South Africa has positioned itself as a regional stabilizer through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), particularly through peacekeeping missions. However, its approach balances between Western calls for liberal governance and Russian/Chinese preference for sovereignty and anti-interventionism. This approach, while aiming for unity, risks fragmenting the peace process. For Congolese civilians, SADC’s presence offers temporary security but fails to address the root causes of violence, such as corruption and systemic grievances.

Rwanda’s involvement in Congo serves a dual purpose, securing its border from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia linked to the 1994 genocide, while allegedly supporting the M23 rebel group to exploit Congo’s mineral-rich regions. This proxy warfare destabilizes the region, displacing millions and fueling human rights abuses, including sexual violence and child soldier recruitment.

Russia’s expanding presence in Africa, underpinned by military cooperation, arms deals, and mining contracts, seeks to increase influence in the region. Through resource diplomacy, Russia has sent the Wagner Group to secure mining concessions in exchange for arms and political support. While this strategy presents itself as a counter to Western neo-colonialism, it veils a neo-imperial agenda that undermines the DRC’s sovereignty and exploits its resources.

The United States focuses on democracy promotion and supports the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO). However, its failure to address Rwanda’s destabilizing role in the region highlights inconsistencies in its human rights advocacy, as U.S. policies are often shaped more by great power competition than humanitarian concerns.

Impact on the Horn of Africa

The external involvement in Congo extends its destabilizing effects to the Horn of Africa. In Sudan, foreign-backed factions fuel conflict, with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia promoting competing governance models, leading to the displacement of millions and the fragmentation of state institutions. Similarly, Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab has been heavily influenced by external actors like the U.S. and Turkey, each supporting competing security forces. Gulf States have also weaponized aid to shift political allegiances in the region.

Cross-border arms trafficking from Congo’s conflict zones further exacerbates communal violence in South Sudan and Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region. Refugee flows add pressure to already fragile economies. The instability in the Horn is not just a security issue; it’s an indictment of how external powers prioritize access to resources and strategic positions over the protection of civilians.

As Western influence wanes, Gulf States and Turkey are stepping in to fill the governance vacuum in the Horn. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have established military bases in Somaliland and Eritrea and funded infrastructure projects, while Turkey has invested in ports and military training in Somalia. This geopolitical maneuvering complicates Ethiopia’s position, as the country seeks to balance its growing ties with Russia and its reliance on Western aid and loans. Ethiopia faces the challenge of managing these conflicting pressures while recovering from the Tigray conflict and addressing inflation and post-war reconstruction.

Ethiopia’s Peacekeeping Mission in Congo: Political Motivations

Ethiopia has long used peacekeeping as a diplomatic tool, deploying forces to countries like Rwanda and South Sudan to enhance its regional influence. Its involvement in Congo follows this pattern—projecting Pan-African solidarity and seeking to regain international relevance after the Tigray war. Through its peacekeeping mission under the African Union banner, Ethiopia aims to stabilize the region and strengthen its ties with the UN, while also protecting its trade routes and economic interests.

However, Ethiopia’s peacekeeping mission in Congo faces criticism, particularly in light of the country’s own domestic crises. With billions needed for post-Tigray reconstruction and millions of citizens in need of food aid, critics argue that prioritizing foreign peacekeeping over domestic recovery is politically motivated. Furthermore, Ethiopia’s alignment with Kinshasa could provoke Rwanda-backed M23 insurgents, complicating an already complex conflict. The involvement of Russian mercenaries in Congo further complicates Ethiopia’s position, potentially straining relations with Western donors.

Conclusion:

The DRC serves as a focal point for global power struggles, with rivalries over mineral resources and strategic influence contributing to instability and humanitarian crises. Ethiopia’s peacekeeping mission in Congo, while aimed at restoring regional leadership and rehabilitating its international image after the Tigray war, reveals the challenges of balancing domestic priorities with external ambitions. Going forward, African Union-led initiatives will be crucial in preventing external meddling, but Ethiopia must be cautious not to overextend itself by focusing too much on peacekeeping at the expense of urgent domestic recovery. The conflict in Congo underscores a broader trend in Africa, where external powers exploit divisions to access resources, and where sustainable stability requires regional cohesion, sovereignty, and a focus on human security.

By Tsegaab Amare, Researcher, Horn Review