DR Congo Position Paper, DISEC

COUNTRY: Democratic Republic of Congo
COMMITTEE: DISEC
AGENDA ITEMS: Preventing the acquisition by terrorists of radioactive sources and weapons of mass destruction, Measures to promote the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, The question of the privatization of space

DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) is the fourth largest country and by size, the second largest country of Africa with 2.344.858 km2 land, located the right middle of the continent. By 2015 the population is estimated at around 79 million, Young age densely. The current president is Félix Tshisekedi since elections of 24th of October with the governmental regime of Unitary semi-presidential republic. The current prime minister of defence is Crispin Atama Tabe.
Achieved its independence from Belgium in 1960 under the name “République du Congo” (Republic of Congo) but shortly after the establishment, a military coup has been taking a place and country renamed as The Republic of Zaire. The new president Joseph Mobutu established a single party system, declared himself head of state. After 32 years of kleptocracy in 1996, a group of Rwandan insurgents overthrew the government to take over the mineral source of Zaire.
After Mobutu fled, the country changed its name to the Democratic Republic of Congo again with leadership of the head of rebellions so-called Laurent-Désiré Kabila. The new regime challenged by a second insurrection of Rwanda. The attempt has been failed with supports of Chad, Namibia, Sudan and Zimbabwe to the government of Kabila. After Kabila’s assassination in 2001 his son Joseph Kabila took his place. With Kabila’s successful work, all remaining parties accepted to unite as a nation.
A transitional government was set up in 2003, It held proper governing organs comparing to the previous Mobutu regime. It is an undeniable fact that DRC has been experiencing the violence by Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, assorted Mai Mai militias and etc. We are going to fight against those armed group in order to sustain a peaceful environment in our country.

As a country which is enduring the terrorism of insider and outsider groups, DRC thinks MEDC’s are mostly responsible for smuggling radioactive materials Ending the black-market is far from reconsideration but the production of this kind of goods must be in governments’ supervision. This neglecting action must be regulated with the legislation of radioactive weapon production. Stopping radioactive sources to be gained by terrorist groups, Convention on The physical Protection of Nuclear Material and TPNW has been signed by the most member states. However, terrorist groups and even some states are able to achieve radioactive sources and they tend to use them in their military purposes.

Bearing in mind that both World wars’ have the most devastating weaponry, Biological weapons have one of the most hazardous impacts on humanity. Geneva Convention needs amendments for technological development of the century. Redistribution and gaining public opinion would be more important.

The space industry is a profitable sector for the future of mankind. Lacking natural resources could be provided from asteroids, planets and comets. This would be a direct benefit to the sustainable development goals of the UN. Some important threats can be seen in the perspective of the space miming, space military bases and strategic movement of the states. Mining industry has been developing on a large scale, and in the near future, states will be able to gain profit from space mining. As the DRC, we believe that the profit must be shared equally. Mover ever, super powers or the countries investing in space agencies will be establishing military bases in space. These military bases can be seen as a threat to the unity of the UN. We believe that all kinds of military actions must be done under the supervision of the relevant UN body.

As the government of DRC we are supporting successful scientist to make reseach about space program. It would be useful for us to give a place a small part of the interview made with Jean-Patrice Keka Ohemba Okese a scientist who founded a company with the aim to send African rockets into space and someday put African satellites into orbit.

“The government has been supporting me morally and psychologically—but they haven’t invested a dime so far. However, they allowed me to travel to cities such as Paris and Washington so I could talk about my project to great authorities, which is a huge honor for me.”

Thank you for your attention.

REFERENCES
1- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo
2- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html
3- https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/8gddy3/hows-the-congolese-space-program-doing-0000261-v21n3