ABSTRACT African countries have suffered conflicts both intra and inter-state often originating from foreign intervention by either super powers or other powerful member states. This intervention in Africa chronicles the foreign political and military interventions in Africa during the periods of decolonization (1956-1975) and the Cold War (1945-1991), as well as during the periods of state collapse (1991-2001) and the “global war on terror” (2001-2010). Since the late 19th century, Congo’s vast natural resources have continually attracted violent intervention from abroad and stoked internal conflicts (Keyes, 2004). The two major powers involved in the region are the United States and France. Since both have a strategic interest in rare metals, they would like to see their transnational corporations have access to these resources. This study was set to find out the relationship between foreign intervention and continued conflict in North Kivu, DRC. It was guided by three specific objectives, that included determining the; i) determining the level of foreign intervention in North Kivu, DRC; ii) the level of continued conflict in North Kivu, DRC; iii) the relationship between foreign intervention and continued conflict in North Kivu, DRC. The study was premised on the theory of realism, among whose assumptions are that; states actions are guided by their national interests, not morality, and that the international system is anarchic with no overarching power. The study looked at the Concepts, Opinions, and Ideas from Authors and Experts. Stratified random sampling was used to identify the respondents while data was collected using questionnaires, interview guide and reviews. The data was analyzed using the SPSS software. The findings indicated a positive relationship between the extent of foreign intervention and continued conflict in North Kivu, DRC. The study recommended the DRC Government and Rebels to deploy the trained Congolese battalions first in Masisi and Rutshuru territories in North Kivu to provide security for the population, to focus MONUSCO forces on immediately increasing protection of the population, to start a revised program combined with a new disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) program and to develop expertise to manage land conflicts. To the United Nations, it recommended the Security Council to ensure a strong human rights component for MONUSCO and strengthen it on its protection mandate. The international community should focus on the rampant human rights violations and bring the perpetuators to justice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION A

DECLARATION B ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT ix

Chapter Page

ONE INTRODUCTION 1

1.0 Background 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem 10

1.2 Purpose of the Study 11

1.3 Research Objective 11

1.3.1 General Objective 11

1.3.2 Specific Objectives 11

1.4 Hypothesis 12

1.5 Research Questions 12

1.6 Scope 12

1.6.1 Geographical Scope 12

1.6.2 Content Scope 13

1.6.3 Time Scope 13

1.6.4 Theoretical Scope 13

1.7 Conceptual Framework 14

1.8 Significance of the Study 15

1.9 Operational Definition of Key Terms 16

TWO REVIEWOF RELATED LITERATURE 18

2.0 Introduction 18

2.1 History of Foreign Intervention 18

2.2 The Reasons for Foreign Intervention in the DRC 21

2.3 The Effects of Continued Conflicts in North Kivu-DRC 24

2.4 UN Authorized Use of Force 27

2.5 Exploitation and Plunder by Neighboring States 27

2.6 Continued Conflicts 28

2.7 Characteristics of a Failed /Failing State 29

2.8 Theoretical Scope 31

2.9 Relevance of the Realism Theory to the Study 33

V

THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 34

3.0 Introduction 34

3.1 Research Design 34

3.2 Research Population 34

3.3 Sample Framework 35

3.4 Sample Size 35

3.5 Sampling Technique 36

3.6 Sampling Procedures 36

3.7 Ethical Procedure 36

3.8 Source of Data Collection 37

3.9 Instruments for Data Collection 37

3.10 Validity and Reliability of the Instruments 38

3.11 Data Gathering Procedures 39

3.12 Data Analysis 40

3.13 Ethical Considerations 41

FOUR PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF

RESULTS 42

4.0 Introduction 42

4.1 Demographic Profile of Respondents 42

4.2 Reasons for Continued Conflicts in North Kivu 44

4.3 The Effects of Continued Conflicts in North Kivu 48

4.4 Relationship between Foreign Intervention and Continued Conflicts

in the North Kivu, DRC 52

4.5 Findings 55

FIVE CON LUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 57

5.0 Introduction 57

5.1 Conclusions 57

5.1.1 Strengths 57

5.1.2 Weaknesses 58

5.1.3 Testing of Hypothesis 58

5.2 Recommendations 58

5.2.1 To the DRC Government and Rebels 58

5.2.2 To the United Nations 60

5.2.3 To the International Community 60

5.3 Areas for Further Research 62

REFERENCES 63