The Democratic Republic The Democratic Republic of the Congoof the Congo

Paul Farmer: Humanitarian Dr. Paul Farmer: Humanitarian Dr. in Haiti in Haiti

CongoCongo

• King Leopold Took King Leopold Took Congo as his own Congo as his own personal colony.personal colony.

• Enslaved population Enslaved population to work in rubber to work in rubber fields far away from fields far away from their farms, their farms, destroying their destroying their family systems.family systems.

HistoryHistory

• Leopold seized in 1885, when Leopold seized in 1885, when European powers carved up Africa.European powers carved up Africa.

• Brutally ruled the Congo to extract Brutally ruled the Congo to extract rubber for the newly growing car rubber for the newly growing car industry in early 20industry in early 20thth c. through c. through 1950s.1950s.

• In 1960 Congo “given” its In 1960 Congo “given” its independence.independence.

Hangings, floggings and Hangings, floggings and amputations to enforce amputations to enforce colonial rulecolonial rule

Patrice Lumumba, democratically Patrice Lumumba, democratically elected Prime Minister in 1960, elected Prime Minister in 1960, assassinated by U.S. CIA and Belgium assassinated by U.S. CIA and Belgium security: seen as too “leftist.” More security: seen as too “leftist.” More nationalist than communistnationalist than communist

Replaced by Mobutu Seko : Replaced by Mobutu Seko : ruled for 30 years plundering ruled for 30 years plundering resources, abusing population resources, abusing population with no developmentwith no development

Rwandan Genocide 1996Rwandan Genocide 1996

• Hutus exterminated 800,000 Tutsis in 9 Hutus exterminated 800,000 Tutsis in 9 months while the world stood by.months while the world stood by.

• The difference between Hutu and Tutsi was The difference between Hutu and Tutsi was socially constructedsocially constructed– Tutsi, generally, taller, lighter skin, narrower noseTutsi, generally, taller, lighter skin, narrower nose– Tutsi were an elite class, generally wealthierTutsi were an elite class, generally wealthier– Hutus and Tutsi regularly intermarried and were Hutus and Tutsi regularly intermarried and were

neighbors until the genocide.neighbors until the genocide.

Artificial separation in reality: Artificial separation in reality: although everyone knows what although everyone knows what everyone is; marked on IDseveryone is; marked on IDs

Paul Kagame Tutsi liberator Paul Kagame Tutsi liberator from Hutus, President of from Hutus, President of Rwanda.Rwanda.

Joseph KabilaJoseph Kabila

Took over from father after last revolt Took over from father after last revolt against Congolese government and against Congolese government and his father’s assassination.his father’s assassination.

Revolt Sponsored by Kagme/Rwanda Revolt Sponsored by Kagme/Rwanda and Uganda.and Uganda.

Congo’s Corrupt Congo’s Corrupt governmentgovernment• Congo’s government is notoriously corrupt Congo’s government is notoriously corrupt

with Kabila pocketing tens of millions of with Kabila pocketing tens of millions of dollars while population lives in poverty.dollars while population lives in poverty.

• Congo rarely pays its military and has no Congo rarely pays its military and has no control in the East.control in the East.

• The East if filled with rich mineral mines The East if filled with rich mineral mines including Coltanincluding Coltan

After the GenocideAfter the Genocide

• Hutus escaped into Eastern Congo Hutus escaped into Eastern Congo and terrorized population, including and terrorized population, including Tutsis who lived there too.Tutsis who lived there too.

Coltan is necessary for cell Coltan is necessary for cell phones IPads and other high phones IPads and other high tech machines. Very Rare. tech machines. Very Rare. Found in Eastern Congo, along Found in Eastern Congo, along border with Rwanda and border with Rwanda and Uganda.Uganda.

Chinese are actively securing Chinese are actively securing minerals and building minerals and building infrastructure of Congo.infrastructure of Congo.

5 Million People have died as a 5 Million People have died as a result of the Congolese Wars result of the Congolese Wars since 1996. since 1996. • Many Militias trying to secure mineral Many Militias trying to secure mineral

mines have used mass rapes, mines have used mass rapes, murders, amputations and murders, amputations and kidnapping of children as tools of war. kidnapping of children as tools of war.

• Lord’s Resistance Army is but one of Lord’s Resistance Army is but one of the militias operating in the area. the militias operating in the area. Others backed by Uganda and Others backed by Uganda and Rwanda are there too.Rwanda are there too.

M23M23

• Was a militia funded by Rwanda to Was a militia funded by Rwanda to protect Tutsis and secure the area, protect Tutsis and secure the area, have been one of the main have been one of the main perpetrators of these atrocities. perpetrators of these atrocities. Actively uses child soldiers and rape Actively uses child soldiers and rape to terrorize population.to terrorize population.

Sultani Makenga is head of Sultani Makenga is head of M23. Took over from previous M23. Took over from previous leader who is wanted by World leader who is wanted by World Court.Court.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr

7aZih2ZyU7aZih2ZyU

M23 takes Goma without fight M23 takes Goma without fight from Congolese Army, UN from Congolese Army, UN Watches.Watches.

Congolese ArmyCongolese Army

• Is undertrained and often untrained Is undertrained and often untrained and commits as many atrocities as and commits as many atrocities as the rebel forcesthe rebel forces

• Have killed and sold as many as Have killed and sold as many as 10,000 elephants to poachers, raped 10,000 elephants to poachers, raped population, summarily killed population, summarily killed villagers.villagers.

• Has no support among the people of Has no support among the people of the East.the East.

M23 was absorbed into the M23 was absorbed into the army after the 2000 revolution army after the 2000 revolution putting Kabila in powerputting Kabila in power• They were promised power to steal, They were promised power to steal,

but didn’t get as much as they but didn’t get as much as they wanted.wanted.

• In recent weeks, they have captured In recent weeks, they have captured Goma, the major trading center of Goma, the major trading center of the East, without opposition from the the East, without opposition from the U.N. or Congolese army, many of U.N. or Congolese army, many of who have joined the uprising.who have joined the uprising.

¼ million civilians have fled, ¼ million civilians have fled, rape torture, murder, disease rape torture, murder, disease sure to follow unless sure to follow unless resolution.resolution.

What does M23 Want?What does M23 Want?

Who Knows? They say to get what was Who Knows? They say to get what was promised after last revolt.promised after last revolt.

Probably control of Eastern Congo.Probably control of Eastern Congo.

Or overthrow of DRC government.Or overthrow of DRC government.