“This policy brief examines rent-seeking and agency activities in the Great Lakes region of Africa, with particular emphasis on Zaire/Congo and the Central Africa Republic (CAR). The brief contends that insurgencies and arms proliferations are a byproduct of these activities. Inherited boundaries, pervasive poverty, ethnic cleavages and under-development are some of the ills which countries in the sub-region need to address in order to combat this phenomenon. The lack of a dedicated local implementation government agency and political will at national level have hampered attempts at eliminating rent-seeking and agency activities, despite the presence of a continental framework. The brief argues that the continent needs an effective corruption watchdog and strong democratic institutions in order to tackle the problem.”
