Over the past few decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has faced disaster and adversity. From its involvement in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda to the work of rebels within the country, it has had to adapt to the ever-changing conditions of the world around it. As the damage of rebellious groups in Africa is notorious for its impact on human life all over the continent, the Congo is not excluded. Earlier this year, Rwandan/Congolese rebels gained control of some of the most valuable cities in the Congo, earning this status through their socioeconomic and political power. If such great power that is held in a region manages to end up in the wrong hands, only time will be able to tell of the consequences that the Congolese people will suffer as a result of the situation.
The conflict sprouted from the aftermath of the Rwandan Civil War. According to the Global Conflict Tracker, ethnic groups — Tutsis and Hutus — engaged in battle. Many Hutu people resented/killed Tutsi individuals on an ethnic basis, resulting in a merciless bloodbath. In light of this, 2 million Hutus became refugees, crossing over the DRC’s border. As they settled in refugee camps in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, many more flocked in, some being Hutu extremists. These extremists organized militias within the Congo but were faced with ethnic tensions, as Tutsi refugees ended up organizing against the Hutu groups. With the continuation of said tensions and foreign powers taking sides in the conflict, an evident sense of impending doom materialized within the region.
Furthermore, conflict within the DRC intensified through two bloody wars. As stated by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the First Congo War (1996-1997) was a result of the perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide preying on the local Congolese population and conducting attacks back into Rwanda. The Rwandan army responded by invading Zaire (the name of the DRC from 1971-1977) and was met with little resistance from victims. The commander of the advancing army – Laurent Kabila – claimed the presidency, naming Zaire the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This move was characterized by grave human rights violations against Rwandan refugees, who were chased into the Congo’s forests. Although a military success can be recognized, the genocidal forces present were not stopped. During the Second Congo War (1998-2003) – also known as the Great War of Africa – Rwanda and Uganda invaded the Congo once more. However, nations such as Angola and Namibia came to the Congo’s defense. All countries identified in the conflict were accused by the United Nations (UN) of using the war to cover up the looting of diamonds, gold, and other raw materials.
Perhaps the greatest effects on the Congo have been those that came to be as a result of the M23 rebellion of 2009. As mentioned by Reuters, numerous Tutsis led a revolt in the Congo on March 29th of 2009 and are presently insurgents that take up arms against Congolese forces. They have accused the government of Congo of not honoring peace deals and fully integrating Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration. As they have vowed to protect all Tutsi interests, they have been active in gaining power over multiple regions of the country, including those rich in Coltan – a material used for the production of smartphones and other equipment.
While the M23 rebels claim they fight for a just cause, their actions still induce a myriad of malignities upon Congolese civilians. According to BBC, On February 16th of this year, the rebels entered Bukavu, the eastern Congo’s largest city. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes as a result of this. With the capturing of new materials and territory, the rebels have hoped to gain political and economic power that can be attained from the massive amounts of natural resources in the region. Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebels. However, President Paul Kagame has denied all claims. Kagame claims that Rwanda is fighting danger of its own from Hutu rebels in the Congo and has dismissed any threat of sanction. There are speculations of a ceasefire agreement, as many of Africa’s heads of state have called for one at an African Union meeting occurring a week after the attacks.
The fate of the Congo lies in the hands of African leaders and the country’s allies. Only time will tell of the measures that officials will be willing to take to aid the nation, as the lives of millions of people in the region remain on the line.
Written by Alexandra Kwitkowski
