Congo Continues to Alarm & Confuse

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of Africa's largest and most fractious countries. The country formerly known as Zaire is effectively divided into several factions, which control separate regions - all of which experience conflict of some sort or another on a regular basis. The Eastern Congo region may just be the most dangerous place on the face of the earth. President Kabila is highly constrained by limited authority, a meager budget, contentious and unprofessional military units, and several active rebellions. Not a pretty picture.

Since the first Congo War millions have died, many hacked to death by machete, and entire villages were forced to relocate creating an enormous humanitarian crisis - at ground zero for filoviruses like Ebola and Marburg.

"If 6 million people were killed or simply vanished off the face of the Earth, you might expect an immediate international outcry, or in-depth analysis of this humanitarian catastrophe. You'd expect the story to be on the front page of every newspaper and magazine in the world. You'd expect broadcast and photojournalists to take every opportunity to document this story. This story has already happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and there has been no such outcry. This atrocity is surrounded by silence.

1.1 million people are displaced in North and South Kivu provinces and living in unspeakable conditions in refugee camps. 200,000 women and children have been raped and brutalized. It is estimated 1,200 people die every day, and it could be stopped tomorrow with enough international will." (source)

Recently there has been some good news, as a major rebel leader was captured and taken out of the current equation. But another infamous rebel warlord remains at large and the attention has now turned to him. Former adversary Rwanda, the DRC's much smaller but much more powerful neighbor, is now cooperating with Kabila's government in Kinshasha on a final push to eliminate the potent Hutu Interahamwe militia from the country.

Technorati Tags: African Wars, Congo, Rwanda