General Information
The Congolese Human Rights Crisis began to turn into an unspeakable horrendous product of humanity in 1998. These violent acts have been recognized to be so tremendously devastating that it is often referred to as the African World War— in recognition of the fact that over five million people have been murdered, and two hundred thousand women had been sexually assaulted (O'Cealleigh). The Democratic Republic of the Congo has gained the title of the rape capital of the world (History of the Conflict). The tactic of rape is supposedly a method of dehumanizing women in front of family members to achieve a certain outcome (Zapata). One of the main conflicts causing this human rights crisis to occur is the fight for certain minerals that is only found on Congo soil ("The Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Short Timeline"). The fight for who has ownership of the minerals often results in violent acts. The other conflict is repercussions of the Rwandan Genocide and former Congo human rights crisis in 1996 (Johnson). Adding to the list of conflicts, Eastern Congo is also terrorized by the Lord's Resistance Army, which is lead by the infamous war criminal, known as Joseph Kony (Craine). Other oppressors include militant Hutus and as of recently, M23 rebels have been keeping the African war zone alive ("DR Congo: M23 Rebels Kill, Rape Civilians").
Geography and Racial Makeup
The DRC is a sparsely inhabited country with a population of approximately 67,000,000 people in a 905,600 squared mile region— compared to America with a population of 320,000,000 people in about 4,000,000 square miles ("The Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Short Timeline"). The majority of Congo's population lives in cities such as the nations capital, Brazzaville. Whereas most of the people live in cities, the majority of the country is made up of equatorial forests. Geographical features include a 100 mile coastline of the Atlantic ocean—that is also shared with Gabon. The crystal mountains reach up to 2,963 feet which is also the highest elevation in the Congo. The Congo river— which is also the sixth longest river in the world— flows for 2,920 miles (Bunseki).
200 African ethnic groups make up the country's population. The majority being Bantu. Amongst the Bantu, their three largest tribes are Mongo, Luba, and Kongo. The next largest tribe is of Hamitic descendant and identify as Mangbetu-Azande. These four tribes represent 45% of the racial and ethnic makeup. Native Congolese, Sangha, M'Bolhi, Teke, and Europeans make up the remaining 55% (Bunseki).
200 African ethnic groups make up the country's population. The majority being Bantu. Amongst the Bantu, their three largest tribes are Mongo, Luba, and Kongo. The next largest tribe is of Hamitic descendant and identify as Mangbetu-Azande. These four tribes represent 45% of the racial and ethnic makeup. Native Congolese, Sangha, M'Bolhi, Teke, and Europeans make up the remaining 55% (Bunseki).
Historical Context
The Congolese Crisis occurred after the Rwandan human rights crisis which took place in 1994 (Zapata). The first Congo war started in 1996, and the second started in 1998. Several armed militias and seven countries became involved during the second Congo war. The seven countries included Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, Libya, and Sudan. The human rights crisis and conflict in the Congo is still occurring today (History of the Conflict). The conflict lives on by key oppressors such as Rwandan and Ugandan Pro-Genocide officials ("The Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo"). In 1998, when Kabila began his rule, the new president accused Rwanda of exploiting the Congo's minerals. With the aid of neighboring countries, Kabila was able to remove Rwandan and Ugandan forces out of the country ("The Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo"). This tension added to the conflict, thus Rwanda and the Congo have mainly been living in either brewing tension, or a false state of peace. The crisis still continues today, due to rebel groups like Hutu extremists and M23 Rebels.
Key Players
The Interahamwe, whom are terrorists that were drawn out of Rwanda and pushed into the Congo, are more commonly known as hard line militant Hutus (Johnson). These militant Hutus, slaughtered and targeted ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus ("The Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Short Timeline" ). They're targets of the crisis mainly because of the continuation of the Rwandan Genocide— when there was a civil war involving the conflict inspired by a Tutsi minority and a Hutu majority (History of the Conflict). The Hutus crafted an extermination plan against the Tutsis, due to the fact that they were such a minority. In response to the genocide and upbringing of civil war, the Tutsis' formed the RPF— Rwandan Patriotic Front (Young). The Hutus then realized this would only cause further toxicity feeding into a civil war, thus the Hutus intensified their war tactics and responded with mass killings and systematic rape (Kirchner).
More recent key players are the M23 rebels. The members of M23 are mostly of Tutsi ethnicity, and have ties with Rwandan leaders ("The Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo"). The rebel leaders include Col Sultani Makenga, Gen Bosco Ntaganda, and several other war criminals. This group claims to rebel due to the fact that the Congolese government has not lived up to the peace deal established on March 23, 2009. They also fight because the Congolese government gives unfair treatment to the army and doesn't properly care for them. However, the main goal of the M23 is to attack the Hutus in revenge for their acts of eliminating Tutsis in previous years (BBC).
More recent key players are the M23 rebels. The members of M23 are mostly of Tutsi ethnicity, and have ties with Rwandan leaders ("The Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo"). The rebel leaders include Col Sultani Makenga, Gen Bosco Ntaganda, and several other war criminals. This group claims to rebel due to the fact that the Congolese government has not lived up to the peace deal established on March 23, 2009. They also fight because the Congolese government gives unfair treatment to the army and doesn't properly care for them. However, the main goal of the M23 is to attack the Hutus in revenge for their acts of eliminating Tutsis in previous years (BBC).
Cause of Conflict
The first Congo war was sparked by the remainder of perpetrators who attacked in the Rwandan genocide (End Genocide). The Interahamwe, who fled to Eastern Congo were now targeted by Rwandan and Ugandan political officials (McGreal). However, in 1998 the president of the DRC, Mobantu. who favored dictatorship was overthrown by Laurent Kabila who was an opposition leader. Kabila ordered Rwandan and Ugandan forces to leave the Congo because he feared annexation of the mineral rich territory located in Eastern Congo ("The Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Short Timeline"). While tensions began to brew, Kabila's government received an abundance of military support from neighboring regions such as Zimbabwe and Angola to protect the Tutsis and the land (Johnson). With Kabila's presidency settling in, a brief peace settled among the land. However, in 1998, the rebirth of the Congo war began. Kabila turned on Uganda and Rwanda, and allowed Hutu armies to reestablish in eastern Congo. The armies later attacked Uganda and Rwanda, causing the whole area to be a war zone. Mass killings and systematic rape started up again (Young).
How have the Human Rights Violations been Committed?
The main form of attack demonstrated in this human rights crisis was rape and sexual assault targeted towards Tutsi women. The idea behind raping the women was that their family members would also have to witness their pain and suffering, and additionally the women would suffer a sad death (Young). In 2001, when Kabila was killed, the country was sent back into turmoil (Young). 75,000 Tutsis were killed in a three month period, leading up to a total of 5 million Tutsis killed overall in the Congolese crisis (O'Cealleigh). It was during this time that sexual assault had reached an alarming high point, and over 200,000 rapes were accounted for (D.R Congo). A peace agreement known as a transitional constitution was signed in April 2002, however the violence still continues to ensue (History of the Conflict).
Important Dates
July, 1999
The seven countries involved in the Second Congo War (Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, Libya, and Sudan) sign the Lusaka Peace Accord. This document basically put a brief ceasefire to the African war zone. Disarming of combatants and the release of hostages took place. 5,000 United Nation peacekeepers were witnesses to this event (Eastern Congo Initiative).
August, 1998
Hutu Rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda go against the president. Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Angola send militant troops to aid President Kabila. Unfortunately, the rebels took control of Eastern Congo (Raise Hope for Congo).
January 16, 2001
The president Laurent Kabila was shot dead by his teen solider bodyguard, better known as a Kadago. Months before this event, Kabila had said that his child soldiers would never go against him, as they have been though so much together (such as overthrowing the dictator Mobutu). Those events have created a family-like bond. His son, Joseph Kabila, takes over as president and works towards signing a peace agreement that takes place later on (Raise Hope for Congo).
April, 2002
Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo begins. Uganda is all for peace, but Rwandan officials back away from the idea (Raise Hope for Congo).
July, 2002
Rwandan officials give in towards the concept of peace. Rwanda begins to arrest Hutu gunman involved in the genocide of the Tutsis (Zapata).
September, 2002
Ugandan troops sign a peace accord and leave the Congo (Raise Hope for Congo).
December, 2002
A peace deal between South Africa and main rebel groups have been established (Raise Hope for Congo).
March 23, 2009
A peace deal was signed between the National Congress for the Defense of the People and the Congolese Government. This date is very important because it later influences a rebel group to form (known as the M23 rebels) who created the M23 movement. They originally started the uprising to get revenge on the Congolese Army for not properly caring for them (such as not providing vital needs such as food or water while the troops served). However, the Tutsi rebel group expanded their violence and began to murder and attack Hutus in vengeance of prior Tutsi genocide (Zapata).
The seven countries involved in the Second Congo War (Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, Libya, and Sudan) sign the Lusaka Peace Accord. This document basically put a brief ceasefire to the African war zone. Disarming of combatants and the release of hostages took place. 5,000 United Nation peacekeepers were witnesses to this event (Eastern Congo Initiative).
August, 1998
Hutu Rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda go against the president. Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Angola send militant troops to aid President Kabila. Unfortunately, the rebels took control of Eastern Congo (Raise Hope for Congo).
January 16, 2001
The president Laurent Kabila was shot dead by his teen solider bodyguard, better known as a Kadago. Months before this event, Kabila had said that his child soldiers would never go against him, as they have been though so much together (such as overthrowing the dictator Mobutu). Those events have created a family-like bond. His son, Joseph Kabila, takes over as president and works towards signing a peace agreement that takes place later on (Raise Hope for Congo).
April, 2002
Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo begins. Uganda is all for peace, but Rwandan officials back away from the idea (Raise Hope for Congo).
July, 2002
Rwandan officials give in towards the concept of peace. Rwanda begins to arrest Hutu gunman involved in the genocide of the Tutsis (Zapata).
September, 2002
Ugandan troops sign a peace accord and leave the Congo (Raise Hope for Congo).
December, 2002
A peace deal between South Africa and main rebel groups have been established (Raise Hope for Congo).
March 23, 2009
A peace deal was signed between the National Congress for the Defense of the People and the Congolese Government. This date is very important because it later influences a rebel group to form (known as the M23 rebels) who created the M23 movement. They originally started the uprising to get revenge on the Congolese Army for not properly caring for them (such as not providing vital needs such as food or water while the troops served). However, the Tutsi rebel group expanded their violence and began to murder and attack Hutus in vengeance of prior Tutsi genocide (Zapata).