Congo, Africa’s World War Why is it a World War?

Largest UN Peacekeeping mission !!

Forgotten Crisis Conflict and humanitarian crisis have taken the lives of 5.4 million people since 1998 As many as 45,000 dead every month, according to a major International Rescue Committee study.

Africa’s World War What are they fighting over?

UNDERLYING CAUSES BELGIAN COLONIALISM PRESIDENT MOBUTU 30 YEAR RULE IMMEDIATE CAUSES H.R. ABUSES BY MOBUTU & RISE IN ANTI- MOBUTU REBELS- MOBUTU DEPOSED! UGANDA & RWANDA INVADE TO SEARCH OUT HUTU EXTREMIST REBEL GROUPS INITIALLY SUPPORT LAUREN KABILA & MOBUTU IS OVERTHROWN Many reasons for the World War today… Underlying & Immediate causes..

King Leopold II of Belgium Colonial History

Belgian government exploited resources of Congo

After decades of colonial rule, Belgians get independence in 1960

Democracy: Pres. Lumumba elected, but viewed as communist! Patrice Lumumba- 1 st Elected leader of Congo CIA & rebels in Congo deposed Lumumba.

Mobuto Prime Minister etc…

Cold War Ally Minerals & Resources U.S. Support of Mobutu Sese Seko Underlying Causes…

' In the Rubber Coils', a Punch cartoon of 1906, shows King Leopold's stranglehold Mobutu, one of the world’s richest men!! Even before the war, corruption & poverty in the Zaire/ Congo!

Mobutu deposed 1997, Laurent Kabila becomes President; renamed DRC

Laurent Kabila came to power after Joseph Mobutu (Sese Seko) was ousted in 1997! NEW LEADER CAME TO POWER… INSTABILITY… Rebel groups from Uganda and Rwanda invaded to flush out Hutu Extremist, boost anti Mobutu rebels.. Many armed rebel groups in Eastern Congo.

Beginning of World War; outside invasion, internal instability.

Kabila & Government Forces Rebel Fighters/Opposition Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi & others Other groups etc.. Laurent Kabila & Rise of Rebel Groups & World War

His son Joseph becomes the next leader…

History of DRC led to poverty… While Congo has abundant natural resources, it is also the world’s poorest country per capita, according to the United Nations.

What do the invaders want? What do corrupt leaders want control of? What does the West want? Control of Congo’s Minerals

Even the U.S./western companies are involved!

Congo’s Minerals

Genocide Guilt over Rwanda Western countries want minerals.. Western powers are hesitant to criticize Rwanda U.S./ West has always supported “Corrupt” Leaders. U.S./West and other want access to minerals Why didn’t the UN taken Action in Congo?

Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in July 1999 Between Congo & Five States Although significant progress has been achieved in the DRC since UN intervention, The eastern part continued to be plagued by recurrent waves of conflict, chronic humanitarian crises and serious human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence.

Finally a ceasefire/ peace accord in Congo

UN Peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts…. But no action against invading countries & corrupt leaders. Congo is home to the largest and most expensive U.N. peacekeeping mission in the world, MONUSCO. Sadly, the UN failures to stop the atrocities in the country…

UN- New Intervention Brigade, 2013 the Security Council passed resolution 2098 authorizing the momentous Force Intervention Brigade (FIB). The first of its kind, the force received an unprecedented offensive mandate and was unambiguously tasked with neutralizing armed groups.

United Nations Security Resolution 2098 It is the first of its kind given an “offensive” mandate. Calls on the brigade to carry out “targeted and robust offensives” with the intention of “disarming armed groups,” namely the M23 rebels

Video Clip; explanation of minerals in our technologyVideo Clip; explanation of minerals in our technology..