1. Democratic Republic of Congo
Unit 7: Africa

2. 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

3. Valuable Resources of DRC

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. African World War
Unit 7: Africa

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.