A Critical Analysis of Natural Resource Management in the Conflict Zones: a Case Study of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Abstract

DRC has experienced conflicts that have affected the populace in various ways. Conflict in DRC has been linked with natural resources, and this has led to the use of natural resource management strategy in managing of conflict in DRC. Although, natural resource management has been used, conflicts are still experienced in DRC. Concerns have been raised on the effectiveness of natural resource managements in managing conflicts in DRC. Thus this study sought to analyze the nature and dynamics of natural resource management in conflict warring zones by taking a case study of DRC. Specifically, the study was guided by the following objectives: to assess the nature and dynamics of natural resource management in conflict Zones in the DRC, assess the natural resource conflict zones in Africa and assess whether there are any resource management models from other conflict zones that the DRC can learn from. The study was based on two structural conflict theory and environmental scarcity theory. The study was a sample size of 12 participants, with purposive sampling used to select. The study was based on qualitative research methodology, and did use document analysis as the research method. The study established that there exists many conflict zones that have experienced resource related conflicts. The study also revealed that predominantly the nature of resource management in DRC is top based. Further, the findings showed that DRC can adapt community based resource management that has proved successful in some African countries. The study concluded that natural resource management is still limited in its effectiveness to manage conflict in DRC. The study recommends the need to adopt community based resource management that fits the context of DRC.