The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Quick Facts• Capital City: Kinshasha• Population: 75,507,308• A little bit bigger than the combined areas

of Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway

• Official Language: French– Other languages: Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili,

Tshiluba• Demographics: Over 200 ethnic groups,

majority Bantu

Resources

Government & Politics• Belgian Congo:

– 1908 – 1960– Paternalistic approach, Belgian government took taxes, built

infrastructure and exploited resources• Independence: June 30th 1960

– Patrice Lumbumba• Republic of Zaire

– 1971 – Mobutu: had the support US, political repression, corruption,

human rights violations, • Democratic Republic of the Congo

– During the First Congo Civil War, 1997, Laurent Kabila marches to Kinshasa, claims himself president

Mobutu also known as:

The all powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, shall go from conquest to

conquest, leaving fire in his wake

Wars, Corruption & Human Rights Violations

• First Congo War, Second Congo War• Mobutu’s government was a

kleptocracy• “War that involves at least 20

different rebel groups and the armies of 9 different countries, yet does not seem to have a clear cause or objective.” – Howard W. French, NY Times

• Human Rights Violations

The DRC Today• Current President: Joseph Kabila

• First free elections in 2006

• In 2013, UN secures peace agreement with M23 rebels, but Eastern Congo still remains volatile