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Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Untapped Potential and Ongoing Challenges

Discover the vast potential of DRC with rich mineral resources like cobalt and a history marked by political turmoil. Explore the impact of the African World War and ongoing efforts for peace in the region.

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Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Untapped Potential and Ongoing Challenges

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  1. # 11 Democratic Republic of Congo - Zaire Unit 7: Africa

  2. Vast Potential of DRC - Zaire Mining for Cobalt • Territory • 1/4th size of USA • Agriculture • Suitable Conditions to grow a variety of Crops. • Coffee, Sugar, Tea, Cotton • Mineral Resources • Use to be Major Producer of Precious Metals • Diamonds, gold, Cobalt • Instability has slowed production • 71% Below Poverty Line

  3. Valuable Resources of DRC

  4. Modern History of the Congo • Belgium Controlled until 1960s • Did little to prepare for independence • Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba • Leader of the Independence movement • Elected Prime Minister • Country descended into Civil War • Lumumba overthrown and murdered in jail.

  5. Joseph Mobutu • Overthrew Gov’t in 1975 • Renamed Congo formally known as Zaire • Kleptocracy • Ruled By thieves • 15-20% or state budget went to Mobutu • 71 million from Nat. Bank. • Worth 5 billion by ‘80s • Cold War Politics

  6. Tensions on the Rise • Cold War Ends • So does support for Mobutu • Rwandan Genocide • 800,000 Tutsis massacred • Hutu Death Squads • Flee into Zaire • Mobutu was weak & dying of cancer • Border became powder keg of unresolved ethnic disputes

  7. African World War • 1996 Rwanda invaded • Want to destroy what is left of the death squads • Install Laurent Kabila • Relationship sours • Failed to remove Hutu Militias

  8. African World War Unit 7: Africa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLV9szEu9Ag

  9. Build up to the African World War • Why does a country start a war? • Defense • Ideological Disagreement • Political Disagreement • Resources • Congo and 9 Nations around it sit on richest part of the planet • Uranium, diamonds, gold, oil, etc.

  10. Who’s Involved? • 6 Nations and 9 Rebel Groups • How does it start? • Rwanda displeased with Kabila • 1998 began support for Congolese Rebel groups • Domino Effect

  11. Who Else is Involved? • Rwanda and Uganda • Support Rebel Groups • Trying to oust Kabila • Kabila has allied with Hutu • Angola • Needs Kabila ‘s help to fight its own Rebel Groups (Unita) • Namibia • Allies with Angola

  12. International Response • How involved should UN and US be? • Aid? • Troops? • When? • Why has the US not acted? • Same story different War • Allies • Rwanda and Uganda • Uganda- Against Muslim Extremists • Rwanda- Moral Debt

  13. African World War • Most of the war fought against CIVILANS! • Not a lot of traditional battles. • Civilians driven from homes • 4 to 5 million deaths • Child soldiers utilized • Most since WWII • Lusaka Peace Accords: 1999 • Signed by major participants • Fighting continues

  14. Peace Attempts • Security Council • Delegation visits region April to may of 2002 • Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on transition in DRC was signed. • Rwanda and DRC Peace Agreement • Kabila accepts new Constitution. • Election to be held in 2005

  15. Aftermath African World War • Laurent Kabila • Assassinated by Body Guards in 2001 • Son takes over • Joseph Kabila • Elected President in 2006 • First Democratically held elections • Pledge to fight violence and corruption • Reelected in 2011 • Growing unpopular

  16. Violence Continues • Fighting Resumed in 2008 • Laurent Nkundatook control of Eastern DRC • Ethnic Tutsi • Accused of being Pawn • Rwanda orders his arrest • Army falls apart • Rise of M23

  17. M23 • M23 made up former soldiers of Nkunda’s rebel army • Signed Peace Agreement in 2009 • M23 claims demands have not been met. • Seized Goma in Nov. 2012 • Valuable Trade Hub • M23 an interesting Paradox • Human Rights Violators • But able administrators and better then the current gov’t

  18. Chance at Peace? • Feb. 2013 • Announced new Peace Attempt • Neighboring Countries increase cooperation • Decrease funding rebel groups • Increase UN presence • Political and government reforms. • War still continues

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