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Congo, Africa’s World War Why is it a World War?. Forgotten Crisis Conflict and humanitarian crisis have taken the lives of 5.4 million people since 1998 A s many as 45,000 dead every month, according to a major International Rescue Committee study. . Forgotten Crisis.
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Forgotten Crisis Conflict and humanitarian crisis have taken the lives of 5.4 million people since 1998 As many as 45,000 dead every month, according to a major International Rescue Committee study. Forgotten Crisis
Many reasons for the World War today…Underlying & Immediate causes.. Underlying causes Belgian colonialism President Mobutu 30 year rule Immediate Causes H.R. Abuses by Mobutu & rise in anti-Mobutu rebels Uganda & Rwanda invade to search out Hutu extremist Rebel groups initially support Lauren Kabila & Mobutu is overthrown
While Congo has abundant natural resources, it is also the world’s poorest country per capita, according to the United Nations. History of DRC led to poverty…
U.S. Support of Mobutu Sese SekoUnderlying Causes… Cold War Ally Minerals & Resources
Even before the war, corruption & poverty in the Congo 'In the Rubber Coils', a Punch cartoon of 1906, shows King Leopold's stranglehold Mobutu, one of the world’s richest men!!
. The eastern part of the country is plagued by instability, as militias continue to wreak havoc on the population, to gain control of mines..
NEW LEADER CAME TO POWER… INSTABILITY… Rebel groups from Uganda and Rwanda invaded to flush out Hutu Extremist, boost anti Mobutu rebels.. Many armed rebel groups in Eastern Congo. Laurent Kabila came to power after Joseph Mobutu (Sese Seko) was ousted in 1997!
Laurent Kabila & Rise of Rebel Groups & World War Kabila & Government Forces Rebel Fighters/Opposition Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi & others Other groups etc..
Control of Congo’s Minerals What do the invaders want? What do corrupt leaders want control of? What does the West want?
Why didn’t the UN taken Action in Congo? Genocide Guilt over Rwanda Western countries want minerals.. Western powers are hesitant to U.S./ West has always supported “Corrupt” Leaders U.S./West and other want access to minerals
Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in July 1999Between Congo & Five States Although significant progress has been achieved in the DRC since UN intervention, the situation in many regions of the country has generally stabilize. The eastern part continued to be plagued by recurrent waves of conflict, chronic humanitarian crises and serious human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence.
Congo is also home to the largest and most expensive U.N. peacekeeping mission in the world, MONUSCO. Sadly, the UN failures to stop the atrocities in the country… UN Peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts…. But no action against invading countries & corrupt leaders.
It is the first of its kind given an “offensive” mandate. Calls on the brigade to carry out “targeted and robust offensives” with the intention of “disarming armed groups,” namely the M23 rebels United Nations Security Resolution 2098