The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is the first UN force in history authorized to deliberately execute offensive operations, and since 2013 has done so against different armed groups in eastern DRC, employing robust military means such as attack helicopters, field artillery, special forces, and unmanned aerial vehicles to accomplish its mandate. This study analyzes how military force has been used by UN troops and why it has been considered controversial. Using MONUSCO as a case study, it specifically examines if military force has reduced the threat posed by Congolese and foreign armed groups, and if it has contributed to the achievement of the mission's ultimate political aim, that is protection of civilians. The analysis demonstrates that MONUSCO has struggled to overcome broad structural limitations of the UN to deploy and employ military assets; to adhere the principles of peacekeeping; to understand the utility of force in stabilization operations; and to pay enough attention to possible side effects and long-term repercussions of the offensive use of force in complex adaptive systems.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)