Kevin Griffith- A Peace Corps Volunteer and Law Student's Opinion on the Coltan War

Kevin Griffith was in the Peace Crops for two years in Uzbekastan, Russia, and Indonesia. He returned to New York where he educated high school drop outs with a Holy Cross Mission group. He then went to India where he worked with a non profit organization that helped build an orphanage for children victims of the tsunami. After studying a law case in Amsterdam for a year, he is now attending Case Western Reserve as a law student.
When I asked him what his opinions were regarding the war in the Congo, he gave me 3 possible solutions/advice for the situation.

1.  A removal of the weapons from the DRC would effectively reduce the violence and crime in the country. This would especially aid in the dealing with Rwandan Hutu rebels in both North and South Kivu. 


2. There should be a security system reform in the DRC, with a new focus on capacity and accountability. The government should be held accountable- if the police are corrupt or steal land from the local citizen, then the courts or military or some system must be able to punish the police. 


3. A better focus on political engagement to improve the government through increased economic transparency, taxes, local elections (decentralisation) , and continuing efforts in trying to sustain stable regional relations.