The generosity of the developed nations in the aid of developing and struggling nations is legendary yet these developing nations continue to languish in poverty in spite of and sometimes because of the aid given . A prime example of a heavily aided country whose populace is languishing in misery is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A major problem relating to the issue of aid to the developing nations is the issue of distributions. Lack of proper distribution networks, corruption, and inaccessibility are some of the major bearing factors towards the distribution of aid (Moyo, 2009). Both war and peace affect aid negatively and positively with the government being part of the problem more than it is part of the solution. Like many countries that receive a lot of aid from the developed world, the DRC can benefit more from policy changes and not merely more aid.
Advantages and Disadvantages of War To Aid Distribution
Within the last two decades, the DRC has been in war on and off, with some parts having not known peace at all and this has had a mixed impact on the distribution of aid. There are some parts of the DRC that cannot be said to fall under any government. Within these areas, both the government and private militias play the villain resulting in a great humanitarian crisis. The greatest advantage of the war to the distribution of aid lies in the fact that aid moves directly from the donors and their representatives to the populace who stand in need of it. The wastage and misappropriation that comes as a result of corruption within the government and military organs of the Congo are thus avoided (Moyo, 2009). Lack of security, however, becomes a major problem for aid distribution. The distributors of aid are not able to access some parts due to the fear of attacks by bandits. Further, creating a private network for aid distribution in the absence of stable governance is a major problem for aid distributors. In some cases, aid is available but the people continue to suffer because the materials cannot reach them.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Peace To Aid Distribution
In the rare moments when Congo has known peace, the government had partnered with the donor communities to provide aid and this has an elaborate pro et contra. The greatest advantage of peace for aid distribution is the availability of the infrastructure to enable donated materials to reach all the corners of the vast DRC. Many people who need aid are able to get it as long as it is available. Availability of aid in this perspective is a variable term and does not necessarily mean the presence or lack of donations. The government of DRC is one of the most corrupt in the world and cannot also be considered to have been democratically elected. When aid agencies partner with government agencies, a lot of donated materials will either be stolen or misappropriated by government officials (Moyo, 2009). The distribution of aid will also include favoritism as the government tries to aid friendly tribes at the expense of those not considered as friendly. The better means to distribute aid to more needy people using government apparatus is compromised by the fact that more aid is lost through corruption and misappropriation.
Specific Action of the DRC Government Using Foreign Aid and Borrowed Monies
According to an organization known as the Congo Research Group, there is a blurred line between the government of the DRC and the family of the current president Joseph Kabila. Reference to the family is crucial because President Kabila’s predecessor was his father Laurent Kabila. At least 80 of the largest companies in the DCR are owned by the larger Kabila family (Wessels, 2018). About ten million people in the DRC are in the constant need of food on a continuous basis. The government uses donor money and funds borrowed from international aid organizations to buy food from the Kabila families at exorbitant prices and distribute the same to the needy and starving masses. Each government project for providing aid benefits the Kabila family or their cronies one way or the other. Finally, President Kabila’s term as president has since ended but he remains president because the DRC apparently cannot afford an election and the president has declined aid to run the election.
Impact of Aid on Poverty and Warfare in the Congo
Unfortunately, aid has neither reduced poverty nor extenuated the war in the DRC and can even be said to have an adverse effect in the country. Foreign aid has been a cosmetic solution to the general problems in the Congo thus making the country reluctant to look for permanent solutions thereof. A majority of the Congolese live below the poverty line and have relied on aid for over two decades now (Al Jazeera, 2018). Their poverty has not become a real crisis because of the availability of constant aid thus, permanent solutions have not been sought. With regard to warfare, foreign aid paid for the sham elections that were held in the DRC in 2001 bringing Joseph Kabila to power. Foreign aid has also kept Kabila in power under whose reign the mineral-rich segments of Congo have remained in conflict for decades. Aid has, therefore, had adverse consequences on the Congo.
Conclusion
It is clear from the foregoing that aid has been a mixed blessing to the DRC, and war and peace have also had a mixed effect on the distribution of aid. The presence of active fighting and the absence thereof both have positive and negative effects on aid distribution as the Democratic Republic of Congo example presents. When there is no active fighting, government agencies are available to distribute the aid, a fact that comes with its own pro et contra. On the other hand, when there is war, aid donor have to find a way of distributing aid themselves. Eradicating poverty and war in the DRC needs a governance solution as opposed to more aid.
References
Al Jazeera. (2018, March 19). UNSC: 13 million people need humanitarian aid in DR Congo. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/unsc-13-million-people-humanitarian-aid-dr-congo-180319193647677.html
Moyo, D. (2009, March 22). Why foreign aid is hurting Africa. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123758895999200083
Wessels, J. (2018, March 23). UN warns of 'catastrophic' aid crisis in DRC. Retrieved from https://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/UN-warns-of-catastrophic-aid-crisis-in-DRC/1066-4353696-5ij8wjz/index.html
