Democratic Republic of the Congo Peter Langan & Jake O’Flahavan

What is Genocide? Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.

Background Information Began in 1996 5.4 million deaths Bloodiest conflict since WWII DRC is located in central Africa http://www.africashippinglogistics.com/export/dr-congo/

Causes After the genocide in Rwanda ended in 1994, Hutu perpetrators fled into eastern provinces of the DRC to form the FDLR. FDLR means Democratic Forces for Liberation od Rwanda, they are a rebel group in East DRC They are composed of ethnic Hutus who oppose Tutsi rule. This conflict formed the genocide. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo.svg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo&h=600&w=800&tbnid=wbrpEV6GYsgV5M:&tbnh=160&tbnw=213&docid=0oF1J37itHpsPM&itg=1&usg=__C8jc_lWYLDGlKZ6WZILlKr2sbUc=

Causes http://www.hhpz.org/index.cfm/id/4378/?clearcache=1 Two largest ethnic groups in this region. Hutus make up 85% of the population while Tutsi make up 14%. The RPF, a Tutsi-led militia defeated the Hutu movement in July, 1994. Immediately following the defeat, nearly 2 million Hutus fled into neighboring countries to avoid a potential Tutsi retribution. This influx of Hutu in the DRC, among other factors led to the first Congo War in 1996.

First Congo War Refugee camps served as de facto army bases for Hutu militants. They terrorized and robbed the local population. Then in October 1996, Tutsi in the region led an uprising to force the Hutus out of the Congo, sparking the First Congo war. This war lasted from October 1996 to September 1997 when Kabila took over as president of the Newly formed Democratic Republic of the Congo http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-11108589

2nd Congo War Also known as The Great War of Africa. http://www.hossit.com/war-congo/ 2nd Congo War Also known as The Great War of Africa. August 1997 – July 2003 Despite new government the eastern government to be an unstable war zone. The new president turned on his supporters (Rwanda and Uganda) and allowed Hutu armies to regroup in eastern Congo.

2nd Congo War This betrayal resulted in a joint invasion of Rwanda and Ugandan forces into Eastern Congo in 1998. Other countries came to Kabila’s help which slowed the Rwandan and Ugandan troops. This conflict lasted for five years. https://katsafrica.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/first-war-in-the-congotribal-hostilities-reappear/

End Result Since the fighting began in 1998, around 5.4 million people died in the Congo. Many of the deaths were indirectly caused by the war, malaria, and malnutrition. The Hutu tribes that formed after the Rwandan genocide, terrorized neighboring villages.

Pledge awareness We pledge awareness to stop genocide, and keep the world safe from terror and evil. - Jake O’Flahavan and Peter Langan.. https://twitter.com/endgenocide/status/691625525652094977

Bibliography http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/congo  http://endgenocide.org/conflict-areas/dr-congo-backgrounder/ http://borgenproject.org/5-facts-congo-war/ http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/1129/A- brief-history-of-Congo-s-wars