Congo is a country that is among the richest in the world in terms of natural resources. But in reality the country is one of the poorest and most violent in the world. It is known as the area where most rapes take place in the world (rape capital of the world) and the genocide that has been taking place there for years has continued almost unhindered, without the UN troops being able to do much about it. In recent years, more than five million people have been murdered in the country and murders and rapes continue every day.
Rwanda and Congo
Congo (formerly Zaire) was never a peaceful area, but events in Rwanda caused the conflict in Congo to spiral out of control. The genocide that had taken place in Rwanda then continued in Congo. After almost a million Tutsis were murdered in Rwanda in a hundred days in 1994, the perpetrators, the Hutus, fled after a Tutsi militia took over. The Hutus feared reprisals and two million Hutus fled Rwanda, many ending up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 1996, Laurent Kabila invaded Congo with the help of Rwanda and overthrew Mobutu’s regime. This was what led to the First Congo War , Rwandan and Ugandan groups were active in the Congo. Other African countries also sent troops, all interested in the rich Congo. The Second Congo War , also known as the African World War , took place two years later, in 1998. This Second War was officially declared over in 2003, but eastern Congo is still very turbulent.
Army and Militia
The Kivu area, bordering Rwanda, is particularly at the center of the current unrest. The conflict is a tangle of different armies and militias, from which new militias keep breaking away. This makes it virtually impossible for outsiders to get a clear picture of the conflict. Until 2008, Congo and Rwanda were constantly on the brink of war. Congolese Tutsi warlord General Laurent Nkunda waged a campaign to destroy the Hutus of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) . He accused the Congolese government of supporting the FDLR. However, at the end of 2008, the Congolese and Rwandan governments decided to eliminate the FDLR in Kivu. However, so far this has not been successful; neither the Rwandan and Congolese governments, Nkunda’s militia, nor the UN troops have succeeded in defeating the FDLR. Neighboring country Uganda also supplies its militias to Congo: the Lord’s Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, takes advantage of the uncertain situation in Congo. The LRA recruits child soldiers and is guilty of murder, rape and uses girls as sex slaves. The presence of this militia causes even more unrest in an area that is already plagued by chaos. The fact that almost all groups in the conflict are non-governmental groups makes peace agreements extra difficult. In 2009, a new treaty followed, in which militias from the National Congress for the Defense of People (CNDP) would be integrated into the Congolese national army (FARDC). Many soldiers soon mutinied and by April 2012 many had joined M23, led by Bosco Ntaganda, a leader within the CNDP. M23 strives for an independent Tutsi state and is mainly active in the north of Kivu. This militia also indulges in crimes against humanity, such as murder and rape. The Rwandan government is supposed to support this group, but strongly denies this. Another militia Raia Mutomboki attacks anyone who speaks Kinyarwanda (Congolese or Rwandan) and is probably supported by M23. All in all, the conflict in Congo is the bloodiest in the world since the Second World War.
Resources and Illegal Trade
conflict between Hutus and Tutsis that has gotten out of hand and spilled over from Rwanda. Congo is rich in natural resources that are interesting for many groups. Governments, militias and others are eager to take control of the resource-rich areas and are willing to go to great lengths to do so. Areas are depopulated if necessary to gain access. Gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten are a number of minerals that can be found in Congo (just a small selection) and that appear in all kinds of modern gadgets: mobile phones, computers, MP-3 and MP-4 players, etc. The illegal mining Many minerals are a lucrative trade for many, they are melted down in third countries and it is then virtually impossible to trace their origin. This is how they end up in our products and the population does not see any of the money they generate.
Violence
To this day, probably 45,000 people still die every month. Ethnic groups that are particularly hard hit are the Banyamulenge, the Hutu Banyarwanda, the Hema and the Lendu. Children under the age of five in particular are often victims. Diseases and hunger claim many victims, these are indirect consequences of the ongoing conflicts. These often involve simple diseases that would not lead to death under normal circumstances. In addition, the violence has caused many people to flee: 2 million people have had to leave the country and 3.4 million people have fled within Congo. In addition, sexual violence is a major problem in the conflict, the number of rapes is unprecedented and leads to major problems. Problems on a personal level, because women suffer physically and psychologically, but also on a social level, because rape increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, which is a major danger. There is hardly any help for girls and women and if it is available, they often do not dare to use it. The Congolese national army is the biggest culprit when it comes to rape, but militias and civilians are also guilty of it. Even cannibalism has been reported as occurring violence in the area. The local Mbuti pygmies (an indigenous people in Congo) are hunted like game and then killed and eaten. Cannibalism has also been reported in other regions.
MONUC
MONUC is the longest running UN mission and has been active in Congo for thirteen years. However, with 18,000 people, the mission is not able to play a significant role in the large area. MONUC should protect the population and help with the reconstruction of Congo, but it does not have the capacity to do so.