What is Happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Au sud-est de Kinshasa. Photo DR.

Le Congo est devenu un enfer sur Terre alors qu'il aurait pu être un paradis.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most gorgeous places in the world. Filled with lush valleys, thick forests and scores of African animals in the largest nature preserves on the continent, the country has the ability to become a leader in sustainable development and eco-tourism. In addition, it has some of the deepest mineral deposits and riches in the world. Yet, the Congo is a literal, tangible human tragedy, and the actions in the country’s eastern fringe over the past few weeks once again exemplify this.

The Congo began terribly. Right away, the Belgians, exploited it for nearly 100 years. When the natives finally gained independence, they squandered its riches all the same. Its first official elections were just two years ago, and since then the country has fallen in endless tribal differences and violent uprisings.

Yet, this current situation began in neighbouring Rwanda, not Congo. After the Rwandan genocide, the Interahamwe (in other words the extremist Hutus responsible for the killings) fled to the Congo to escape the Rwandan Patriotic Force that fought to stop the genocide. Currently, the general at that time, Paul Kagame, is president of Rwanda and still bitter with those exiled to Congo. While he denies this, Rwandan nationalists frequently go on raids in the Congo to plunder Hutu settlements, as tensions from the genocide obviously remain deeply embedded in the culture. To make matters worse, the Congolese government, based thousands of miles away on the western side of country, despises the Hutu settlers equally and wants them back in Rwanda. Therefore, they have launched an offensive against exiled Hutus and native Congolese tribes supporting a fiery, local general named Laurent Nkunda. This has forced nearly one million people from their homes and in a week, killed over ten thousand innocent civilians.

The UN, despite having their largest peacekeeping force worldwide embedded in the area, are virtually powerless to stop the carnage. Both sides are burning villages, raping women and enlisting children to fight, prompting the UN to question whom to support. In addition, Kagame refuses to let Rwanda fall back into war and has sealed the border to the best of his abilities, forcing civilians back into the crossfire, so to speak.

The UN has denounced the violence and an emergency summit has been called. kouchner and UK secretary David Millibrand are attending, but both have not made any promises that the violence will stop. Like every African conflict, this one is historical, social and cultural and embedded into tribal factions and racial hatred. A simple political summit may encourage an armistice, but it surely won’t force one though.

And until then, the Congo continues to bleed to death. Apparently the area was once described as heaven incarnate in one respect, but hell on earth in another. Unfortunately, it’s sinking to the latter, more than former right now.

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