Congo is one of the most tormented countries today, and is about to receive more violence and hardship. The reasons are complex and various, including multiple conflicts over natural resources over the years, and political disagreements (Shah). The battles in Congo involve many neighboring nations and tribes. Today, tens of thousands of residents of the capital city Goma are running, with the goal to escape the attacks of the Rebel forces soon to come. These unfortunate residents are caught in a vicious fight between the invaders and the Congolese army, with emergency workers trying incessantly to get food, water, and medical resources to the refugees. Rape, killing and theft are the subject of all of Congo’s reports, and it seems that all peacekeeping groups are helpless and unable to prevent this humanitarian disaster. (Goar)
This quote accurately describes what is going on in Africa. “Corrupt African elites strip their countries bare with Western complicity, leaving a hollow shell in which anarchy thrives and rival militias fight for dominance. Every so often the strife escalates into a horrific bloodbath.” (Goar) In other words, with help from powerful western countries, African officials to hold the majority of the power in their country, essentially exploit their own country leaving it full of hate and sorrow. Such is the anger of the unhappy population, that they become bloodthirsty and different groups form enemies and alliances as they fight against each other for more power (Traub).
Gerry Caplan has written a book that explains what exactly led to Africa’s suffering. The book is entitled “The Betrayal of Africa”. In the book, he traces Congo’s history all the way back, to the trigger of their vicious cycle. A short answer would be to say that this was triggered by the 1994 Genocide. However, Caplan digs deeper. Greed, and thirst for Congo’s precious resources were the triggers. (Ward) In the 19th century, Congo was colonized by the Belgian King; Leopold II. During that time, Congo was a flourishing country, and the King had a mission to civilize the people in Africa. In 1960, Congo gained its independence, however, within a few months of the election, their prime minister was removed forcefully from his position. In 1965, Joseph Mobutu became president, renaming the country Zaire. Mobutu was a “ruthless tyrant” and with the support of the United States, stole resources and essentially rendered the country miserable and angry. After 32 years of Mobutu being in power, the Tutsi rebels threw him down. (Goar)
Laurent Kabila was his successor and he renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was no tyrant like his predecessors, however he could not bring the country to order. Rebels, with the support of Rwanda and Uganda wanted power, militas roamed freely about Congo, raping, looting and plundering the entire country, killing millions. In 1994, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia were thrown into a war that lasted until 1999. However, the killing still did not stop. (Goar)
Joseph Kabila, Laurent Kabila’s son, is trying to stop the cycle from restarting, to stop the bloodshed that occurred in the 1990s. However, it will be a hard feat to accomplish. Ethnic Hutus have regrouped; and the Tutsis who have back up from the Rwandan government, are ready to combat the Hutus. The Tutsis are now led by Laurent Nkunda. Nkunda is a Tutsi general who accused the Congolese government of supporting the Hutus, and is threatening to attack. (Ward) The innocent civilians are hungry, thirsty and in need of major medical care. Caplan believes this to be “the legacy of European imperialism, the rapaciousness of Africa’s own “Big Men” and the West’s hunger for diamonds, petroleum and minerals.” (Goar) In the 19th century, King Leopold II set up a forced labor system because of his hunger for rubber. Today, it is the same, with gold, tin, timber, coltan and diamonds. There is definitely a repetition occurring. (Ward)
How to stop the violent attacks and bloodshed is beyond humanitarian groups. It seems as complicated and twisted as Congo’s distressful history. The UN has sent 17, 000 troops from 18 nations, the world’s largest peacekeeping force, and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has sent 3, 000 more. Peacekeeping missions are more difficult in a country such as Congo, because of the large territory, the dense jungle and the lack of maneuverable roads. (Ward)
The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a catastrophe: women’s lives ruined with rape, children brainwashed into being soldiers, murderous rebels burning homes to the ground. 250, 000 people fled Goma last month, as the world watches in horror and wonders what in the world could possibly end the violence. (Eastern DR Congo: Surge in Army Atrocities)
