following site provided by Kofucius...
help spread the word about : http://drc.ushahidi.com/
Briefly:
- An estimated 4 million people have died in the DRC since fighting broke out in 1998, mainly over the country's immense mineral wealth (of which foreign multi-nationals have much interest in, thus largely influencing the conflict)- It has been the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II
- The five year war (termed "Africa's World War) involved Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Rwanda. It ended officially in 2003 although violence and unrest have continued since, especially in the Eastern part of the country
- General Nkunda's rebel forces began fighting again this past August (his rebel group did not join the ceasefire and integrate in to the congolose army). Nkunda has stated that he is fighting to protect the Tutsi community from Rwandan Hutu rebels in the DRC (many also claim he is fighting for political power that would also give him power over the DRC's mineral wealth)
- THe UN has its largest mission of 17,000 peacekeeping forces in the region. Their mandate is to help pacify the region, improve border security, and monitor an arms embargo. Some advocate for a more forceful UN mandate while many countries have failed to send more if any troops to the region.
- Although many have returned home as violence has slightly decreased, there are still some 1.5 million internally displaced or refugees
- As with most conflicts in Africa, the current situation has much to do with the legacy of colonialism ( From the violent 1885 Belgian imposition of colonial rule by King Leopold II to US and European support for their Cold War ally, Mobutu Sese Soko)
DRC:
- 3rd largest country in Africa
- fertile land
- 74% of the country is covered in rainforest (2nd largest in the world)
- rivers with abundant hydroelectric potential
- coltan (used to make mobile phones)
- Cobalt
-copper
- cadmium
- petroleum
- industrial and gem diamonds
- gold
- silver
- zinc
- manganese
- tin,
- germanium
- uranium
- radium,
- bauxite
- iron ore
- coal
........... and much much more
1 comment:
Funny you posted this. the other day i was thinking we focus so much on blood diamonds. We really need to be talking bout blood cell phones... Coltan only exists in adequate amounts for mining in DRC. This is one another example of how much of an influence Africa has on the entire world. (on that note i gotta add F China, lol)
I got my black president, Now i'm waiting for the day that Africa realizes it's the only continent that could close it's borders and life would continue just fine and have the quality of life for its people improve.
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