1st Edition

Resource Wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo Prospects for Peace via African Knowledge Systems

By Evelyn M. Birabwa Namakula Copyright 2026
314 Pages 14 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

314 Pages 14 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book demonstrates how Afrocentric approaches, enshrined in African Indigenous knowledge systems, particularly the various expressions of Ubuntu (humanism) – can contribute to engendering peace, security, development, and effective natural resource governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Drawing on over 450 interviews conducted in the DRC, this book argues that neoliberal... Read more

Introduction:  Finding Peace in the soil of Culture and the Rubble of War

Chapter 1: Researching resource-based Violence

Chapter 2: A Colonial History like no other in Africa

Chapter 3: Colonialism and the Politics of Self Predation

Chapter 4: Regional Geopolitics, Invasions and Resistance

Chapter 5: Geopolitics and Multinational Companies Maintaining a War Matrix

Chapter 6: How Minerals are Weaponized

Chapter 7: A flammable mix: Armed Groups and Peacekeepers

Chapter 8: Physical and Psychological impact of persistent Conflicts

Chapter 9: Intersectional Interventions

Chapter 10: Afrocentric Peacebuilding 

Conclusion: Intersection of the Impossible and the Possible

Biography

Evelyn M. Birabwa Namakula is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University. A key aspect of Dr. Namakula’s research focuses on resource based wars, peace, security and natural resource extraction.