The root causes of migration: the example of DR Congo

February 15, 2019

central Africa, Article, Migration, DR Congo, Natural resources

The world today has 25.4 million refugees, 3.1 million asylum seekers and 65 million internally displaced people. In 2017, every two seconds, someone was forced to leave their place of residence. The obvious causes of these migrations are violence, poverty and the quest for hope, freedom, a better life. Migration is too often forced and synonymous with suffering. This situation must change!

Issues and context The Belgian federal elections of May 2019 must be an opportunity to raise awareness of the interconnections that exist between different issues and of the role that we can play here on issues that seem (wrongly) to us very often out of reach. our reach. They must also be the occasion for a decisive turning point in Belgium's foreign policy, in favor of greater coherence and this in order to contribute to a more just and peaceful world. In proportion to their population, the largest number of refugees come from Syria, Afghanistan and South Sudan. DR Congo and Burundi, two Central African countries historically linked to Belgium, are also in this sad list (respectively in 7th and 10th position). Here we would like to take the example of the Central African region, and more particularly the DR Congo, to illustrate our points. A silent and invisible tragedy is playing out today in this country. The conflict in eastern DR Congo has already claimed several million victims. It is the deadliest since the Second World War. Yet few people are moved by it. There are nearly 4.5 million internally displaced people in this country, as well as half a million refugees.. Although these figures are considerable, it is difficult to measure them and perceive the extent of this phenomenon. This reality seems far from our daily life, here in Belgium. . The main reasons for migration given by these people are studies and family reasons (+/-30%) and conflicts (+/- 25%) . Although the Congolese are among the most represented nationalities among populations originating from sub-Saharan Africa present in Belgium, this figure remains relatively low. This can be explained by the difficulties and high cost that such a trip represents, thus reserving this “privilege” for people from the upper middle class, or even wealthy backgrounds. . The possibility of migrating to Europe is far from the reality of thousands of other Congolese who are forced into exile in their own country or the region. Behind each number, we must remember that there is in reality a person, a destiny, stories, relationships, values, dreams and sometimes too often still deep suffering. The line between voluntary migration and forced migration is sometimes difficult to draw. We must have the courage to think objectively about the motives behind migration instead of blaming them altogether. It is never without serious reasons that we decide to leave our country. Root causes of migration in DR Congo The reasons given for forced migratory movements are multiple, however we identify two “deep” causes, from which other consequences arise, on which Belgium can have an impact through its policy. exterior. Illegal exploitation of natural resources as a factor of poverty and insecurity The DR Congo is an immense country which is full of opportunities due in particular to the countless riches present in its soil. It has, for example, the 2nd largest copper reserves in the world (with 10% of the total recorded on the planet) and above all the largest reserves of cobalt (nearly 50 %). Paradoxically, it is nevertheless one of the poorest countries in the world. The country ranks 176th (out of 188) in the Human Development Index ranking. and GDP per capita peaks at 499 $USD per year (in comparison, it is 41,096 $USD in Belgium). The population lives in very precarious conditions (particularly due to the glaring absence of infrastructure: roads, electricity, hospitals, etc.) and struggles to satisfy their primary material needs: food, decent housing, income-generating work. . Furthermore, their most fundamental human rights, such as the right to live in dignity and security, are constantly violated. The presence of numerous resources is at the origin of various conflicts across DR Congo. These conflicts cause political instability, the deterioration of the security environment as well as massive displacements of populations. Trafficking linked to the exploitation of resources arouses desire; at least 70 armed groups are active in the east of the country. Revenues from the illegal exploitation of resources finance their activities and therefore fuel conflicts in the region, thus contributing to the context of insecurity and undeniably preventing the establishment of lasting peace. The exploitation of the country's resources also fuels a system of widespread corruption in favor of a few and to the detriment of the well-being of the Congolese population who do not benefit from the sector's benefits. In this context, the national economy is struggling to develop. Transforming this negative spiral into a virtuous circle is possible. Although this situation has been denounced for decades, things are changing very slowly. But it is now essential to stem the problems linked to the (illegal) exploitation of Congolese natural resources so that these resources, which fuel war and insecurity, are transformed into development opportunities for the country and its population.. Bad governance and lack of respect for the rule of law The transition to democratic political life is often marred by violence. The country notably went through a large-scale political crisis due to the delay in the organization of national elections, initially scheduled for 2016. The long and chaotic process which preceded them did not fail to generate community tensions, which sometimes been exacerbated by the authorities. The announcement of the results of the presidential and legislative elections sparked intense controversy. If the new President of the DR Congo has now taken office, we must not neglect the seeds of future conflicts that non-consensual electoral results may represent. Furthermore, the inadequacies of state actions, corruption, violence and bad governance are at the origin of many of the ills of the Congolese people. This situation does not make it possible to respond to the challenges of conflict resolution through usual peaceful mechanisms (justice, mediation, etc.). This persistent system divides communities, impoverishes the population's participation mechanisms and tends not to place human rights as a cornerstone of society. This mode of operation leads to resentment among the population towards constitutional and political ideals and towards institutions. This resentment then itself provokes the use of violence, the successive delegitimization of norms and ultimately the reproduction of this logic. The negative impact of this culture of violence on the lives of people, communities and specifically on the local social fabric is often overlooked. Belgium, which sits in numerous international organizations, must support among its interlocutors respect for the principles of the rule of law, respect for human rights and good governance. It must also support Congolese civil society organizations and support local peace actors to curb these dynamics harmful to the development of the country and the well-being of the population.. Policy recommendations If globalization reduces distances and brings people together, it also allows us to benefit from resources and know-how from the ends of the world. We are all connected and interdependent. For example, the possession of a smartphone by a Belgian citizen, just by its components, closely links it to the destiny of young Congolese diggers. But while interconnection has its benefits, it also comes with responsibilities. However today, Belgium, like other member states of the European Union, tends to abdicate responsibility. However, we should respond to our duty to welcome people in danger or the most deprived populations. It is a moral responsibility, in the name of a shared history and humanity. Population movements (internal and external) are also part of this globalization phenomenon. These are all human lives in search of a better quality of life, it is therefore appropriate to treat them according to the dignity conferred upon them by their human rights. This is the fundamental issue of all migration. Belgian citizens are today asking their (future) political decision-makers to ensure greater coherence in policies towards the countries of the South – and in particular the DR Congo, to stop the root causes of migration mentioned above. -above. Belgium has a role to play in restoring peace and security, particularly in the Kivu regions, to guarantee an environment conducive to a decent life. To do this, they ask Belgium in particular to: Formulate its (new) foreign policy in the Central African region with greater coherence in order to contribute to a peaceful and fairer world:

By increasing the share of public development assistance to achieve the objective of 0.7% of Belgium's gross national income from 2020;
By supporting the DR Congo in its democratization process, in particular by supporting more and more effectively Congolese civil society organizations which work on the ground with the populations with a view to their empowerment;
By supporting and engaging more actively in international initiatives on responsible sourcing of raw materials (notably within the framework of the European Union Due Diligence Regulation ^[5]In 2017, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted the European regulation for the responsible sourcing of four minerals from conflict zones or… Continue reading or the Kimberley Process) ^[6]See in particular: EurAc, Notice for businesses, Member States and the European Commission, Implementation of the EU Regulation, March 2018. and in their implementation in Belgium.

Clara Debeve, based on reflections initiated by volunteers from the Central Africa group.

Attachments

The root causes of migration: the example of DR Congo

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Notes
↑1	Because today, it is estimated that only around 80,000 Congolese live in Belgium, all legal statuses combined (Belgian citizens, sub-Saharan African residents, asylum seekers, people in an irregular situation). Source: King Baudoin Foundation, Report – Citizens with African roots: a portrait of Belgian-Congolese, Belgian-Rwandan and Belgian-Burundians, November 2017.
↑2	King Baudouin Foundation Report (op. cit.).
↑3	Refugees represent approximately 20% of migrants from DR Congo in Belgium. Source: King Baudouin Foundation Report (op. cit.).
↑4	UNDP, Human Development Report 2016.
↑5	In 2017, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted the European regulation for the responsible sourcing of four minerals from conflict or high-risk areas. The regulation thus provides for the obligation for European companies involved in the supply chain (foundries, refineries, traders, banks and manufacturers) to ensure that their imports of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold come from exclusively from responsible sources and are not derived from conflicts.
↑6	See in particular: EurAc, Notice for businesses, Member States and the European Commission, Implementation of the EU Regulation, March 2018.