The Congo A Wealth in Resources, A Tragedy in Human Rights

Objectives Identify the Congo on a blank map of Africa. Describe Congo’s major terrain and its importance in world Understand why conflict continues in Congo. Describe the toll of Congo’s conflict, especially on women and children. Tell how the conflict in Rwanda continues to hurt Congo.

Terms and People Basin is an area where the water flows toward the center. An authoritarian government is one in which a small group has all the power. To nationalize is when the government takes over companies. Conflict minerals are ores that people fight over. A militia is an armed group that is not an official army. I have control of the military. You will do as I say. This belongs to the government now!

In the center of Africa is the Congo Basin. A basin is a place in which all the water flows down toward a center. The Congo Basin is a wet is a densely forested area. Travel in the Congo Basin is difficult even today. Civilizations developed late here.

The size of African nations can be often underestimated. Mapmakers in America tend to put Africa all on one page. But even with its great size, the Congo is underpopulated. The bulk of the Congo is jungle.

Congo has great mineral natural resources. Diamonds Copper Gold And most importantly, coltan, a mineral needed for every cell phone and computer. The Congo has 80% of the world’s coltan.

War has been going on here since Over six million people have been killed. Congo’s neighbors Angola, Uganda, and Rwanda have invaded numerous times. People have come from near and far to do business or to help themselves to these minerals. The resources at the heart of this war are called conflict minerals. Where are these minerals going?

These kids are told that they’ll be heroes, but they’re not given much training. The regular army pushes them out ahead of the real soldiers. Using child soldiers is a common tactic in Africa. They use these kids to show them where the enemy is hiding. The army will know when they begin shooting at the children.

Congo’s resources have not brought health and wealth.

Sandy dunes Rocky mountains Wet hot jungle Dry scrubland Which country is Congo? A B C D A B C What terrain makes up most of Congo? What are conflict minerals? Minerals that have chemical conflicts with the groundwater Minerals with such high value that people fight over them Minerals that more than one company has a legal claim to Minerals that are used to make bombs and other weapons The Congo’s economy is: D Better than most countries in Africa About the same as most countries in Africa Worse than most countries in Africa

What is a geological basin? What is the main use for conflict minerals mined in Congo? Electronics and jewelry Household wiring and shipbuilding Car and railroad manufacture What is a militia? A branch of a nation’s army for use in a jungle An armed group from an invading nation An armed group that is not part of any nation’s army What does it mean to nationalize and industry? The government brings an industry into a country where it has not existed before The government takes possession of a privately owned company The government combines all companies in the nation into one privately owned company An area where much of the water is too low to access with wells An area where much of the water drains toward the middle An area in which the water has been contaminated by conflict minerals

Please read: “Congo.” World Studies: Africa. Pearson-Prentice- Hall, pgs And “Issues for Africa Today.” World Studies: Africa. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, pgs

Democratic Republic of the Congo: The survivors Changed by War: Women and Girls of the Democratic Republic. Save the Children USA Conflict minerals