Rethink Fragility

Dan spent several years with the “Group of Experts” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These are people tasked by the UN Security Council to work out what is really going on with sanctions, armed groups, and smuggling. The approach has generally been low profile, but became somewhat infamous with the murder of two of Dan’s successors in Kasai province in 2017. At a practical level it’s an immensely important role that is a “force multiplier” for effective diplomatic, security and aid intervention, and we unpack how it works from several different directions. Show notes: [02:15] How Dan went from the U.S. Navy to investigating mineral trafficking and armed groups in central Africa, by way of a PhD. [10:45] Following the supply chain for illegally traded gold on foot, from the bush in DRC to the black market in Kampala [16:50] When we don’t have the right information. Failures to “ground truth” our beliefs about fragile places; the mysterious tale of “Mr X” and the ADF in North Kivu. [24:45] When