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Congo: The Trigger of Africa. Karla Arevalo-Alas IT 2010, Georgia State University Nov. 1, 2012. “Africa has the shape of a pistol, and Congo is its trigger.” – Frantz Fanon. Democratic Republic of Congo and it’s importance to Africa Leading factors shaping the Great War:
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Congo: The Trigger of Africa Karla Arevalo-Alas IT 2010, Georgia State University Nov. 1, 2012
“Africa has the shape of a pistol, and Congo is its trigger.” – Frantz Fanon • Democratic Republic of Congo and it’s importance to Africa • Leading factors shaping the Great War: • Rwanda Genocide • Role of State Failure • Social and Ethnic Division
The Democratic Republic of Congo • Importance of the Congo • Natural Resources • Strategic geographical position • Vast territory • Influence of Congo in the neighboring countries • Benefits of controlling Congo’s natural resources
Rwanda Genocide • Hutus vs. Tutsis • Rwanda’s independence from Belgium • Tutsi’s removal from Rwanda • Origins of the Rwanda Patriotic Force (RPF) • The assassination of Rwanda’s president and the retaliations • Amplification of ethnic disagreements
Role of State Failure • Failed State • Resource Course • Mobutu’s role on Congo’s economic failure • Laurent Kabila and the AFDL invasion of Congo • Kabila’s desire to control Congo’s natural resources
Social & Ethnic Division • History of ethnic division • Amplification of ethnic disagreements • Social and ethnic differences as the cause of war • Invasion of Congo as “result” of social and ethnic divisions
The Cause of War • The Great War in Central Africa was a result of the desire to control the Democratic Republic of Congo and it’s natural resources. • Cultural divisions is a camouflage of desire for political and economic control