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THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. THE WORLD’S GREATEST TRAGEDY. Map of the Congo. The Congo at glance! Straddles the Equateur Literally and figuratively the heart of Africa The fulcrum on which the African continent swings Bordered by nine countries
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THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO THE WORLD’S GREATEST TRAGEDY
Map of the Congo • The Congo at glance! • Straddles the Equateur • Literally and figuratively • the heart of Africa • The fulcrum on which the • African continent swings • Bordered by nine countries • 1/4th the size of the US and • the size of Western Europe • Second largest rainforest • Untapped reserves of • enormous resource • Approx. 60 million inhabitants • Over 200 ethnic groups • Life expectancy 51 years • Almost half the population is • less than 15 years old
Who am I? • Professional • Student Coordinator with FOTC • Activist, Writer • Advocate for the Congo • Personal • Born and raised in Congo • Came to the USA in 1998 • 2 siblings • Love Lady Gaga
A Brief Timeline • 20, 000 BC: The Ishango Bones. • Pre-Kongo Civilization. • Kongo Empire (1000 BC). • First European Contact • Slave Trade and Fall of Empire Nzinga a Nkuwu, first Christian Kongo King (1491) Baptized João I
Scramble for Africa begins • European exploration of Africa (David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley). • 1884-85 Berlin Conference. • King Leopold's Reign (1885 – 1908). David Livingstone British Explorer Henry Morton Stanley American Explorer Leopold II King of Belgium The Berlin Conference
The First Holocaust • Extraction of Rubber • Killing of 10 million Congolese under Leopold’s Rule
George Washington Williams Civil War veteran, minister, politician and historian. Travelled to the Congo Free State and his open letter to Leopold about the suffering of the region's inhabitants at the hands of Leopold's agents, helped to sway European and American public opinion against the regime running the Congo under which some 10 million people lost their lives.
William Henry Sheppard One of the earliest African Americans to become a missionary for the Presbyterian Church. He spent 20 years in Africa, primarily in and around the Congo Free State, and is best known for his efforts to publicize the atrocities committed against the Kuba and other Congolese peoples by King Leopold II's Force Publique.
Maria Fearing Born a slave near Gainesville, Alabama in 1838, she learned to read and write at age thirty-three and worked her way through the Freedman's Bureau School in Talladega to become a teacher. At age fifty-six she went to the Congo, where for more than twenty years she worked as a Presbyterian missionary and eventually established the Pantops Home for Girls. Her students nicknamed her, "mama waMputu," (mother from far away) as a symbol of their love and appreciation.
Other Congo Supporters in the 1890-1908 era Joseph Conrad (Heart of Darkness), Anatole France, Arthur Conan Doyle, (Crime of the Congo), Mark Twain (King Leopold's Soliloquy), Edmund Dene Morel, and Roger Casement founded the Congo reform association
Belgian Congo (1908 – 1960) • Economic Consolidation and Extractive relationship • Kimbangu resistance • Independence movements disguised as cultural associations • Paternalistic Political Rule and Role of Christian Mission • Van Bilsen 30 year plan for independence • Belgium accumulates debt in the name of the Congolese people
Patrice Emery Lumumba • Brussels conference • Declaration of Independence • Congo elects Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister (June 30 1960 Lumumba takes office) • Lumumba’s Independence Day Speech • Lumumba assassinated on January 17, 1961 just over six months after taking office • US, Belgium, French, British and UN Involvement in Lumumba’s assassination • Lumumba’s letter to his wife Pauline
The Mobutu Era (1960-1997) • Mobutu Era (1960 – 1997) • Initiated first coup in September 1960 • Resistance by Nationalist and Democratic Forces including the Mulele led resistance • Second coup in 1965 when he assumes the full reigns of power • Reign marked by Kleptocracy • Cold War Patron of the West • Destruction of the country • Overthrown in May 1997
Laurent Desire Kabila • Kabila’s time (1996 – 2001) • Rwanda invades in October of 1996 using the Hutu unchecked presence in Congo as the rationale for the invasion • Kabila made spokesperson of Rebellion • May 1997 - Brought to power by Rwanda and Uganda with the help of Angola and the backing of the United States (See 2001 Congressional hearing of Tom Tancredo and Cynthia McKinney) • Kabila assassinated in January 2001 replaced by Joseph Kabila
The First African World War • Launched in 1998 with the second invasion of Congo by Rwanda and Uganda • Attempt to remove Kabila whom both countries installed in May 1997 • Kabila appeals to Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia for support to resist Rwanda and Uganda • Marked by the systemic rape of Congo’s natural resources • Geopolitics - 8 African Countries implicated
Quote from Women Therese We were accompanied by body guards for everything, even when we went to the toilet … We had to be at the disposition of the man who raped us all day. It was always the same man. Even if I did not want to, I had to be his concubine. He always had his gun pointed at me and threatened to kill me if I resisted him. If I posed the least resistance, he would hit me.
Central Issue The ultimate reason for the terrorizing of the women and displacement of entire villages by the perpetrators is to access and control mineral rich land of gold, coltan, tin, niobium and other valuable resources. In fact, two types of systematic rapes are taking place in the Congo; one is the violent raping of women and the second is raping of the resources by multinational corporations; and the two are inextricably linked.
Statistics Berkeley • 66 % said their home had been destroyed or confiscated • 61 % of those polled in the east said they witnessed the violent death of a family member or friend • 34 % said they themselves had been abducted for more than a week • 53 % reported being forced to work or being enslaved by armed groups • 16 % had been sexually violated and 12 percent multiple times Johns Hopkins Snap Shot of South Kivu Province • 82% of rape survivors have STDs • 60% have lost their husbands • Estimated 30% of rape survivors are HIV positive • Impunity throughout province – estimated 40,000 case of rape - 38 cases brought to prosecution.
Prescriptions In order to stop the rapes, we must stop the conflict. The rapes are a direct result of the conflict. International pressure can play a role in stopping the conflict which is in fact the best way to help the women. Also, pressure on corporations to make sure that Congo's wealth is not looted and in fact benefit the people is also needed so that the women will have the resources needed to heal and recover from the trauma that they have experienced.
Current Situation in the Congo • Transitional Government (2003 – 2006) • One + Four (One president and four vice presidents) • Structural flaws of elections in 2006 • Rebel groups in the North and East of Congo
Predators in the Congo • Forrest International (George Forrest) • Nikanor (Dan Gertler) • Katanga Mining (Glencore) • Dodge Phelps (Freeport McMoRan) • Anvil Mining • First Quantum • Trinitech & Eagle Wings • Kemet • HC Starck • Citibank • American Mineral Fields/Adastra • Cabot Corporation • OM Group • AngloGold Ashanti • World Bank • International Monetary Fund • Heritage Oil • Blattner Group • Banro • TraxisWoldwide • Comprehensive List found on Website
Why Congo Matters • Since 1885, the affairs of the Congo have not been determined by the people of the Congo • The central question is who is going to control Congo's wealth and for whose benefit • The root cause of the conflict in the Congo is the scramble for her immense natural wealth Rich Land Untold Wealth Poor People Human Rights Lost
Why Congo Matters • Congo has enormous natural, hydro, agricultural and human potential • Congo's resources are vital to the functioning of the world's military, aerospace, technology and electronics industries • Congo's geo-strategic location and spectacular wealth makes it critical to the development and future of the entire African continent Rich Land Untold Wealth Poor People Human Rights Lost
The Forces Working Against the People of Congo • Local elites • Neighboring countries • Multilateral Institutions (World Bank, IMF, London Club, Paris Club) • Foreign governments • Foreign Corporations Congo' challenge is both internal and external. We can help through pressure on the outside and support to groups on the inside.
What can you do? Contribute Your Time, Talent and Treasure
Congo 101 1. Very Brief History of Congo's challenges: A. Control of Own Affairs B. Internal & External Challenges C. Geostrategic Battle D. Fulcrum on which Africa swings E. Enormous Potential - Energy, Hydro, Agriculture, 2nd Largest Rainforest in the World 2. Key note that what is taking place is the latest expression of scramble for Congo's wealth - would be a mistake if we pursue short-term policies that are not even guaranteed to work 3. We know what works - global pressure and attention on all parties involved 4. Optimum Ways to help: A. Global Pressure - appeal to President Obama to take the lead and encourage other nations to engage on what is a scar on the conscience of humanity B. Support local institutions and connecting them to the global flow of information, commerce and ideas
Social Media for Advocacy Congolese connecting to the world
Break the Silence Movement • Open-source • Video Messages from Congolese to communities in Canada, Japan, and cities in America • Use of technology in advocacy • Translation of collateral in Japanese and Swedish • Ideas, talents and skills have developed this movement
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Congo Kinshasa, D.R. Congo August 10, 2009 "Use those cell phones to help organize, create political movements, expose crime and violence and corruption, empower the poor with information, access to credit, and social networks."
US President Barack Obama “If Africa is to achieve its promise, resolving the problems in the Congo will be critical."
