The EU’s Support to Security System Reform in the Democratic Repblic of Congo: Perceptions from the field in Spring 2010

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and in
particular the Congolese security system,is beset by some of the most daunting issues the European Union (EU) faces in its efforts to support Security System Reform (SSR) in third states.

Violence, corruption, meagre infrastructure, weak institutions, civilian insecurity, impunity and the lack of equitable justice lead a long list of concerns that hinder development and the rule of law in this fragile state.

This report describes the extent to which the EU’s structural organization, its approach andthe ways it uses its tools enable it to support the long-term and complex process which SSR is. This report provides a snapshot of the evolving EU set-up in the DRC as it was when
interviews were conducted in Spring 2010.