Short Term SOLUTIONS
support
Recently, due to the escalation of attention to civil rights, as well as surge of awareness due to the media, there are many new interventions, national and international, that have pushed the DRC in the right direction. Different international and national powers have recognized the harmful cycle in the DRC, and are using their power and influence to stop it. They are doing this mainly by holding the nation accountable for its actions, and not pushing constitutional transgressions under the rug.
International
Since one of the standout reasons to why the DRC is in their current complex emergency is because the effects of a neighboring country’s war, it is natural that other leaders would want to help themselves, by helping DRC. African leaders met to discuss the situation in DRC in hopes to limit the fallout. They are encouraging Kabila to put the ‘democratic’ back into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The African Union is mediating the internal discussion in DRC because the country is so divided. While this is happening, the European Union is putting increased pressure on the DRC to clean up their act. This international investment in the situation has forced the Democratic Republic of the Congo to be held accountable for their actions (African Powers Must Support Democracy in DR Congo)
internal
The government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not been really proactive when it comes to solving the complex emergency. However, the citizens are not sitting idly by, they are protesting the government's transgression. For example, there was a protest against President Kabila's refusal to leave office after his term was completed, that brought crowds of people to Kinshasa, the nation's capital. This public backlash, is more significant than it may seem because this combined with the international pressure that the DRC is already receiving, has left the government under the spotlight, with nowhere to turn. All it took was some of the people of the DRC familiarizing themselves with the constitution. Once read, it was clear that the government is blatantly disregarding their goal to “protect and promote human rights” (DRC Constitution).
Non government organizations
The horrible situation has caught the eye of different non-government organizations, who are also helping. There are charities like RAISE Hope for the Congo, that make it their mission to raise awareness about the situation, as well as the problem with conflict minerals. Tech companies are also holding themselves accountable by putting an embargo on any products that have been mined in areas with rebel control. This has reduced the rebel presence at mines, and people have noticed that first hand and commented on the improved conditions of the mines. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has required any companies registered under them to report when they use conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and if so, "they are required to report on their efforts to determine the mine or location of origin to ensure that armed groups are not benefiting from the trade of these minerals." (Nick Heath).