The democratic republic of the congo
Violence Displacement Hope
(Picture by UNHCR)
The complex emergency
The complex emergency was caused by a incapable government; specifically their political disorientation and underhanded business transactions, which put guns and power in the wrong hands. The power vacuum has armed rebel groups forcing entire villages from their homes, leading to a sharp spike in displacement.
A fundamental aspect in this emergency is the demand for minerals in DRC’s possession, that is funding the rebels and their war for power. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in possession of 90% of the world’s Columbite-tantalite, or Coltan. This substance, when turned to a powder is vital to making cell phones and other electronics because it can hold high electric charges without damaging the product. Large tech companies were desperate for the mineral so they were willing to pay the price for it, both financially and morally. This demand could have potentially put the DRC in a very profitable position, but since the state of the country was so unstable, many rebel groups fought for the control of mining sites. When the rebels got control of the mine, they used the money made off of it, to buy guns and weapons to solidify their power even more. (VICE documentary)
How did they get here? |
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been thrown into chaos due to the many cycles of damage that are repeating across the country, and without a long lasting intervention, the cycles that were created at the country's founding, will continue.
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Location of the DRC in Africa. (Operation World)
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(CultureGrams: Congo-Kinshasa)
By Ashley McCoy