Democratic Republic of Congo Unit 7: Africa

Vast Potential of DRC Territory Agriculture Mineral Resources 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 Mining for Cobalt

Valuable Resources of DRC

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

Joseph Mobutu Overthrew Gov’t in 1975 Kleptocracy Cold War Politics Renamed Congo  Zaire Mobutu “Sese Seko” 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

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

Boiling Point 1996 Rwanda invaded Install Laurent Kabila Want to destroy what is left of the death squads Install Laurent Kabila Relationship sours Failed to remove Hutu Militias

African World War Unit 7: Africa

Unfinished Business Boils Over into an African World War Why does a country start a war? Defense Ideological Disagreement Political Disagreement Resources Congo and 9 Nations around it sit on riches part of the planet Uranium, diamonds, gold, oil, etc.

Who’s Involved? 6 Nations and 9 Rebel Groups How does it start? Rwanda displeased with Kabila (THEY PUT HIM IN POWER!!!) 1998 began support for Congolese Rebel groups

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

Who else is involved? Zimbabwe (DRC’s Side) Robert Mugabe’s Personal ambition Generals are getting rich.

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

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 Singed by major participants Fighting continues

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 DRC accepts new Constitution. Election to be held in 2005

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

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

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

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