Congo
Also see (about women in conflict in Congo and Africa)
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crises. Although the country emerged in 2003 from what has been called “Africa’s first world war” — or as TIME called it, “The Deadliest War in the World” — (some 3 or 4 million dead) when the former warring belligerents came together to form a transitional government, credible mortality studies estimate that over 1,000 people continue to die each day from conflict-related causes, mostly disease and malnutrition but ongoing violence as well. Six out of ten children die before their fifth birthday. Rampant corruption within the transitional government and pervasive state weakness allows members of the national army and members of armed groups alike to perpetrate abuses against civilians. With the help of the world’s largest and most expensive peacekeeping operation, MONUC, the country overcame major logistic and political challenges to hold its first free and fair elections in 40 years in July 2006. However, the country faces continued challenges including the creation or recreation of state institutions that are accountable to the Congolese people and the construction of a integrated and professional army that protects civilians rather than abuses them.
Need to see a map?
Useful background sources about Congo …
- The UK newspaper The Guardian has first-rate reports
- As usual, the good people at Wikipedia provide a helpful starting point
- You don’t have to be spooky to check out the CIA Factbook
- African Action has been agitating for Africa for more than half a century, through many name changes for the Democratic Republic of Congo
- The UN Development Program’s human development report gives a picture of life in Congo
Congo’s Resource Curse…one of the reasons for continued violence and instability is the vast amount of mineral resources available for the plundering. Coltan, in particular, is valuable because it is responsible for the miniaturization of batteries in cell phones, laptops, and other electronics.
- War, Murder, Rape. . . All For Your Cell Phone is an eye opening article for the informed consumer about the impact of Coltan mining in Congo and ways we can reduce it.
- IMF sees rapid growth in Congo minerals output explains a recent report about mining in Congo and gives the names of several companies invested in these resources.
Breaking News Stories about Congo …
Recent Provocative Articles about Congo …
- State of Emergency: The slaughter of four endangered mountain gorillas in war-ravaged Congo sparks conservationist action.
- Double-Cross in the Congo: A review of The Mission Songby John le Carré
- Time was that the g-word was unpronounceable by critics on the right or left. It is a measure of how much the world has changed since September 11, 2001, that the prospect of genocide shocks neither.
- Since last year’s historic elections, political and economic progress in Congo has stalled, while war drums are rumbling in the country’s east.
Books about Congo, Recent & Classic …
- Osita Afoaku, Explaining the Failure of Democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Autocracy and Dissent in an Ambivalent World
- Didier Gondola, The History of Congo
- Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
- Michela Wrong, In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu’s Congo
Important National & International Organizations …
- Friends of the Congo
- International Rescue Committee
- www.congowatch.blogspot.com
- Handup CongoRelief Web contains a section on maps, updates on countries and humanitarian situations, and policy briefings.
- Women for Women International focuses on Congo, among other countries
Get involved with Hoosier Groups making a difference …
- Bloomington-based Giving Back Africaprovides education opportunities for groups of Congolese students to meet identifiable needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- Indianapolis-based Congo Helping Handsis a non-profit Christian organization that works in partnership to improve the quality of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through human development in health, education, agriculture, and microecomonics.
Local Experts who will be happy to tell you more …
- IUPUI History Professor Didier Gondola
- Louis Calli and Ann Marie Thomson established Giving Back Africa
- Woody Collins of Congo Helping Hands
- Osita Afoaku, director of outreach at IU’s African Studies program
- Faustin N’tala and Euphrasie N’tala are both from the DRC
