HOME UPDATES UGANDA DARFUR CONGO GET INVOLVED WHY AFRICA MISSION

Congo

This is a brief description of what started the conflict in this region. This is meant to provide you with history on the conflict. Updates on these conflicts are happening constantly. I post updates for all three regions on my UPDATES page, almost daily.

The war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC - formerly called Zaire) is the Deadliest War in the World

The war has involved nine African nations and directly affected the lives of 50 million Congolese.

Since 1998 an estimated 4 million died in the DRC, most of which were from consequences of the war such as starvation and disease. Millions more have been displaced since then.

The beginning of this war is partially from the Rwandan genocide spilling over to the DRC in 1996. Militia forces from Rwanda fled to DRC and used refugee camps as bases for their attacks.

By 1999 the DRC was divided into three components, each of which were controlled by different parties, and the three had reached military deadlock.

A cease-fire was proposed and signed but each party repeatedly accused the other of violating the agreement, which never appeared to be implemented in the first place.

The conflict over border trade and gold fields continued to create hostilities and massacres during 2003-2004.

A peace deal was signed in 2005, and the war is technically considered over, but the effects of war are still ravaging the DRC and villages are still brutally attacked. Hundreds of thousands of women and children have been raped. “In the Congo, rape is a cheaper weapon of war than bullets.”

“1,250 Congolese still die every day because of war-related causes.”

“The country is in an utter state of lawlessness; it's complete anarchy. In this culture of impunity, people know they can get away with anything.”