** Military cooperation: the DRC and Tanzania in search of a common security future **
In an era where geopolitical and security issues are complicated, the meeting between the Minister of National Defense and Veterans of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, and his Tanzanian counterpart, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, on April 4 in Dar Es-Salam, intervenes at a crucial moment. This bilateral dialogue aims to revive and consolidate military cooperation between these two countries, in a context where population security is more than ever threatened.
### Security issues at the heart of concerns
The DRC, for several decades, has struggled with endemic armed conflicts, especially in its eastern region. This situation, exacerbated by rebel groups with various interests, has repercussions that largely overflow its borders. In this context, Minister Kabombo highlighted the acute need to strengthen the capacities of the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) in order to better face terrorist threats and inter -community violence. But beyond this immediate aspect, this meeting could also be perceived as an opportunity to rethink regional security strategies.
### Reinventing military cooperation from a new angle
It is interesting to note that this military strengthening approach is not only a question of training and training. It can be considered as a vector of gentle diplomacy between the DRC and Tanzania. By cultivating this cooperation, the two nations are not solely aimed at stemming short -term threats, but also building a long -term mutual trust. Tanzanian expertise in fields such as military training and conflict management offers a unique opportunity for the DRC to benefit from proven know-how, while Tanzania, on the other hand, can solidify its role of leader in security in the Great Lakes region.
### Double sense cooperation
It should also be noted that military cooperation between these two countries could be considered as a model for other nations in the region. If we refer to examples such as the G5 Sahel, which brings together states of the Sahelo-Saharan region in a joint fight against terrorism, it is possible to imagine a G5 of the Great Lakes, which would be responsible for harmonizing security strategies beyond national borders.
Statistically, data concerning conflicts in Africa show that military cooperation can drastically reduce the number of human rights violations, and increase political stability. A recent study revealed that countries that have formed bilateral military alliances observed, on average, a 25% decrease in interstate and intranational conflicts in the first five years following the signing of cooperation agreements.
### Establishment of an operational framework
The follow -up committee established during this meeting represents a significant advance towards the articulation of this cooperation. This framework will not only make it possible to specify the practical methods of military assistance, but also to ensure that each country is able to subject its specific needs. The challenges to be met as part of the training of FARDC executives officers, for example, require adaptability that take into account local geopolitical and socio-economic realities.
### to a sustainable strategy
Finally, the collaboration between the DRC and Tanzania on the military level must feed on a global approach which also attacks the deep causes of conflicts. The question of human rights, socio-economic inequalities and sustainable development must also be integrated into this equation. Neither the DRC nor Tanzania can afford to work in a vacuum. Their effectiveness on the battlefield will ultimately depend on their ability to mobilize a wide range of actors, whether military, political or socio-economic.
Thus, although the immediate security issues are in the foreground, military cooperation between the DRC and Tanzania is set up in a potential opportunity to forge a more stable future for the Great Lakes region. By taking stock of this cooperation in an enlarged framework, the two nations could not only strengthen their military capacities, but also establish a new paradigm of cooperation between states, based on trust and mutual development.
To cover the aspects of this transition and ensure follow-up of this dynamic, Fatshimetrie.org intends to support the evolution of this military cooperation and its benefits on the security and well-being of the populations concerned.