Introduction: The crisis that is rooted in tragedy
From 1996 to the present times, the conflict that occurred in eastern DRC led to approximately six million deaths. From 1996 to the present times, the conflict that occurred in eastern DRC led to approximately six million deaths. The DRC's current warring with Rwanda (and others) spirals from the First and Second Congo Wars (Africa's World War). Those wars spiraled from the Rwandan Genocide. The Rwandan Genocide spiraled from the Rwandan Civil War. The Rwandan Civil War spiraled from Germany and Belgium's dividing the Rwandan peoples - classifying the Tutsi as the more affluent minority and the Hutu as the poorer majority of the country.

Background
In 2012, the M23 which stands for the Mouvement du 23 Mars was created as an armed group in Rwanda operating in the DRC due to the grievances of the peace agreement that was signed on March 23, 2009, between the Congolese government and the rebel group before the M23. The failure of the peace agreement happened because of the incomplete integration of the CNDP Fighters, and Rwanda’s support of former CNDP members which was undermining the peace process. The M23 was defeated in 2013, but they rebuilt themselves in 2021, and they are one of the biggest threats to peace in the region.

The Current Situation: A Recent Shift
The conflict continues, and in response to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), President Félix Tshisekedi has announced a major military leadership revision. This tactic addresses growing security challenges to which the M23 rebel group contributed, whose increased activity has resulted in the unlawful activity of key territories such as Katale and Masisi. This has also caused forced mass displacement and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Lieutenant-General Jules Banza Mwilambwe has been appointed the new Chief of General Staff, replacing former General Christian Tshiwewe. Senior military leaders operating in the volatile eastern regions have also been replaced. These changes were implemented because Tshisekedi attempted to regain control over the deteriorating security situation as the M23 rebels continued to advance. Even the efforts placed on the conflict are still difficult to resolve. Why? It is due to the minerals located in the region, which are gold, tantalum, cobalt, and coltan, that fuel competition among the armed groups, while external support of M23 continue to complicate the effects of stabilization in conflict. The established method of influencing the decisions and behavior of foreign governments through regional mechanisms, such as the East African Community (EAC) force, has yielded limited results, with accusations that some peacekeeping forces have worked with the M23 rather than try to challenge them. According to the United Nations, M23 and various other armed groups forced more than 520,000 people to flee their homes, and this has exacerbated an already unfortunate security and humanitarian situation in North Kivu and the eastern region.

Impact on the Civil Population:
M23, displaying over 500,000 people, has had a significant impact, making entire communities uprooted and adding to the number of people seeking refugee. Access to basic needs, which are food, water, and medical care, has been hard to obtain. Women and Children are the most affected. In addition, the United Nations reported this rampant gender-based violence, but international attention to the issue still has not been given.

Review of Government and Military Response:
The change in leadership shows the government's acknowledgment of failure to address M23 as a threat. Some critique this change as being a reactive rather than a strategic response. Civil society organizations, such a Fally Ipupa Foundation and IOM , wanted a more complete approach that addresses accountability and development in the regions experiencing these effects. The appropriate measures to address the problem is to develop plans that combat the root of the problem.

Why This Matters: A Call to Action
This crisis is not just a regional issue but a global one. The DRC contains many minerals needed to make technology, however, these minerals are exploited for their technology, which has resulted in violence and suffering. Resolving the conflict is not only for moral reasons but also for regional stability and the global supply chain attached. Human lives are being used to fuel the greed of corporations and exploit the natural resources of Congo.

The global community needs to help resolve the conflict by holding perpetrators accountable, supporting humanitarian responses, and pressuring regional participants like Rwanda to cease supporting any armed groups. Civil Society has shown resilience in the DRC, but more serious organizing needs to be taken to break the cycle of violence and build a future where we can actively see peace flourish.

In conclusion, President Tshisekedi's military change is a step in the right direction. A more holistic approach to defeating the M23 is needed. For instance this approach should redirect the priorities to building peace, justice, and development. We must continue the fight to end violence in the Congo.

Written by Victoria Webb

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, including precious minerals like cobalt, diamonds, gold, and coltan. However, to the Congolese, this abundance has had the unintentional effect of attracting much violence and misfortune to them. The minerals that should have brought prosperity have, instead, attracted foreign exploitation, conflict, and suffering. To understand how we got here, we have to look back at the DRC’s dark history under Belgian colonialism, especially the brutal reign of King Leopold II, and how that legacy still shapes the exploitation of Congo's minerals today.

In the late 19th century, King Leopold II of Belgium seized control of the Congo, not as a Belgian colony but as his personal property. It sounds absurd today, but Leopold essentially owned the Congo Free State, as it was then called, from 1885 to 1908. Under the guise of bringing civilization to the African continent, Leopold's true goal was to extract as much wealth as possible, mainly through the rubber and ivory trade.

Despite wealth being the primary goal, Leopold's regime was notoriously brutal. Millions of Congolese were forced into labor, suffering mutilation, torture, and death if they didn't meet quotas for rubber extraction. The atrocities were so extreme that even other colonial powers and humanitarian organizations of the time took notice, which led to an international outcry. By the time Leopold relinquished control to the Belgian government in 1908, an estimated 10 million Congolese had died.

Though Belgium took over from Leopold, things didn’t get any better for the Congolese. The focus on extracting resources continued, with little regard for the welfare of the local population. When Congo gained independence in 1960, the newly independent nation plunged into chaos. The Cold War powers saw Congo as a battleground for influence, making the goal of reaching stable governance much more difficult.

This instability, combined with the presence of valuable minerals, set the stage for the current state of the Congo. The DRC is home to vast reserves of minerals that are essential to modern technology, like cobalt, which is a key component in the batteries that power everything from smartphones to electric cars. Coltan, another mineral found in abundance in Congo, is critical to the production of electronics.

Despite the Congo being an independent state, the exploitation of its resources still continues. Today, multinational corporations and corrupt elites in the Congo profit from the country’s mineral wealth, while most Congolese people live in poverty. Much of this modern exploitation is driven by the global demand for electronics and renewable energy technologies, which rely almost exclusively on Congo’s minerals.

The situation mirrors, almost exactly, King Leopold’s reign. Just like during the colonial period, foreign interests and local elites extract wealth from the country while the people of Congo bear the brunt of the suffering. There’s still a brutal disregard for human life in the pursuit of profit, though now it's for high-tech gadgets.

Breaking this cycle is no easy task. The DRC's vast mineral wealth should be a means to achieve prosperity and stability, but without proper governance, transparency, and international recognition, it continues to scar the nation and those who live there. Global tech companies have been called out for their role in perpetuating the exploitation of Congo’s minerals, and some have made efforts to trace their supply chains and ensure they are not sourcing conflict minerals. However, these efforts consistently fail to tackle the problem in a way that is beneficial for those who are harmed.

To truly break the cycle, multinational corporations must be held accountable. This means enforcing stricter regulations on the sourcing of minerals, supporting sustainable and ethical mining practices, and investing in the development of the DRC in ways that benefit the local population.

Moreover, the Congolese people must retain more control over their resources. This means not just ensuring that they receive a fair share of the profits, but also supporting stronger governance and anti-corruption measures within the country. Only by addressing the deep-rooted issues of governance and exploitation can the DRC’s mineral wealth finally be used to benefit its people, rather than to enrich foreign powers and local elites at their expense.

The exploitation of the DRC’s minerals today is part of a long and painful history that began with colonialism. King Leopold’s reign of brutal capitalism set the stage for the exploitation that has continued, in one form or another, to this day. While the actors have changed, the fundamental issue remains: the vast resources of the Congo have enriched others while leaving its people in poverty. Until this cycle is broken, the shadow of colonialism will continue to loom large over the DRC, and the world will remain complicit in the exploitation of a nation that deserves so much more.

Written by Dylan Legend

In our current world, we often place freedom and independence on a very high pedestal. Many of us assume that with these principles, our lives will be great and free from adversity. Unfortunately, not all nations have had the same positive experience with their independence as countries like the United States . The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one such country where independence did not turn out as expected. As a result, we see a politically corrupt and violence-filled Congo today. To understand the current state of independence of the DRC, it is essential to examine the circumstances that preceded independence, the events that followed, and the connections between them.

The Berlin Conference, known for the Scramble for Africa, was a pivotal moment in history. During this period, most Western European nations had colonies across the globe in places like the Americas and Asia but had little foothold in Africa, aside from a few coastal forts used for the transatlantic slave trade. In the mid to late 19th century, European nations began investing heavily in exploring Africa to expand their political reach and extract resources for economic growth. However, there were fears that conflicts might arise over African territories. To prevent potential wars, the seven largest European powers convened at the Berlin Conference to decide how to divide and conquer Africa.

The map drawn at the Berlin Conference ignored existing cultural and ethnic boundaries, leading to colonial territories with diverse ethnic groups. This disregard set the stage for future ethnic violence once these nations gained independence.

At the time, Belgium was a small nation with no colonial presence elsewhere in the world. However, through the Berlin Conference, it was decided that King Leopold II of Belgium would gain control over the territory now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, then called the Congo Free State. Under Leopold's rule, rubber was hyper-produced, and harsh, torturous punishments were inflicted on the Congolese who failed to meet rubber quotas. The Force Publique, a private military force composed of black soldiers and white officers, enforced these brutal measures. Any form of political expression by the Congolese was ruthlessly suppressed.

In 1908, the Belgian government took over the administration of the Congo after reports of humanitarian abuses under King Leopold, pressured by missionaries and foreign entities such as the UK. Despite this change, the exploitation and abuse of the Congolese people continued, driven by the relentless pursuit of resource extraction. This ongoing marginalization fueled discontent and resistance, setting the stage for the struggle for independence.

In the late 1950s, Congolese people en masse began to realize their strong desire to exercise their political rights, spurred by local government reforms that offered a glimpse of self-governance. This newfound eagerness led to widespread riots and demonstrations organized by Congolese political groups. These groups demanded the political freedom that had been denied to them for nearly 80 years under Belgian rule. Determined to end long-standing colonial oppression and achieve independence, the persistent efforts and growing unrest of the Congolese played a significant role in pushing the country towards independence.

In response to the resistance and increasing pressure from foreign powers to relinquish their colonial influence, the DRC won its independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960. Patrice Lumumba was elected as Prime Minister. Under Lumumba's leadership, a treaty of friendship was established between the Congo and Belgium, allowing certain Belgian officers
to remain in their positions until proper replacements could be found. This decision was unpopular within the Congolese government and contributed to political instability. Following independence, the Congo experienced significant violence and turmoil. Mutinies were orchestrated by the Force Publique, and there were foreign military interventions from the United Nations and Belgium. Cold War dynamics further fueled conflicts. This period of chaos ultimately led to Lumumba's assassination in 1961. The ensuing decades were marked by continued violence and instability, setting the stage for the ongoing struggles the country faces today.

The journey of the Democratic Republic of Congo towards independence was fraught with challenges and turmoil. The legacy of the Berlin Conference and the brutal exploitation under King Leopold II had a devastating effect on the nation. Even after gaining independence, the Congo faced significant violence, political instability, and foreign intervention. Patrice Lumumba's brief leadership and sudden assassination underscored the struggles of a nation trying to find its footing amid internal and external pressures. Today, the DRC continues to grapple with the consequences of its tumultuous history. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the current state of the country and the ongoing efforts towards achieving lasting peace and stability.

Written by Dylan Legend

The American history curriculum taught in public schools and portrayed by mainstream media effectively downplays certain figures' impact on history. Namely, Malcolm X. Most people understand Malcolm X to be a black nationalist extremist concerned with the freedom of African Americans “by any means necessary”, who was also involved with the Nation of Islam and the Civil Rights Movement. However, his founding of the Organization of Afro-American Unity in 1964, his advocacy work in the Congo, and his admiration of Patrice Lumumba are less discussed.
Towards the end of his life in the 1960s, Malcolm X advocated strongly for the Congo. His major points of contention included the treachery of Moise Tshombe and the failure of the American media to highlight the grave situation. This advocacy stemmed from his desire to unite black people worldwide.

To better understand Malcolm’s advocacy for the freedom of the Congo, one must understand the violence that was taking place there during the early 1960s. The country had just won its independence from the Belgian government, Joseph Kasavubu was elected president, and Patrice Lumumba was elected as the first - and, according to Malcolm, only - rightful prime minister of the country. In response, Congolese soldiers of the Force Publique rebelled against their white officers and incited violence across the country. At this point, Belgian troops had been sent in, aid had been requested from the UN who created an intervention force, and, afraid of potential communist influence, the United States had begun to involve itself as well, working to remove Lumumba. Misinformation spread by Western intelligence, and a coup by Colonel Joseph Mobutu led to Lumumba's assassination. Mobutu established relations with the U.S., securing funds to quell rebellions. Thus, the Congo was in chaos when Malcolm X began his public advocacy.

Malcolm believed that Tshombe was the “worst African ever born.” He believed that Patrice Lumumba was the rightful prime minister and that Tshombe was an American agent sent in to disturb the peace. In this way, Malcolm refers to Tshombe as an unreputable figure who gained power through underhanded means. He was living in exile after he led the effort for Katanga to secede from the Congo before returning to the Congo to serve as prime minister. Furthermore, his reign as prime minister was backed by U.S. money, as a means to suppress the rebels fighting to build their government due to fear of a “communist takeover” according to the CIA. He only served as prime minister for about a year before being dismissed by President Joseph Kasavubu. Seeing Tshombe as an American Agent sent to further disturb the natural development of the Congo into a functioning state, Malcolm was very vocal about his disdain towards this man, who, as one could interpret, served as an enemy of progress.

Even further than the direct actions being taken in the Congo, Malcolm was also vocal about his disapproval of how the American media handled sharing the word of the crisis with the American population, especially black people. Seeing as America is a primary instigator in the Congo conflict, and has continued to be well into the 21st century, it is morally unacceptable for America to be so negligent in its coverage of the Congo. This negligence can be seen as America viewing the conflict as trivial, even when considering the mineral wealth of the Congo is quite instrumental in the technological innovations of many wealthy developed nations, as well as the direct American support in the violence by supplying money, weapons, and voting power. It is also important to keep in mind the fact that America was so attentive to broadcasting the news of other foreign conflicts, most notably the Vietnam War, that the American public was not shy in voicing their outcry.

Although this activism from Malcolm was not long-lived, only going forward for about 2-3 years, it is vital to remember that at the heart of all this was the hope for a united black people. He wanted African Americans living in the United States to feel the urge to show support and even help their fellow African-descended brothers and sisters who are fighting in the Congo for their freedom and autonomy. Even going back nearly 100 years at the point when Malcolm was advocating, the Congo had been suffering at the hands of European nations, Belgium specifically. Even after winning its independence, interference from other countries and the long-lasting effects of that interference have been the driving force of the ongoing violence that plagues the Congo. Malcolm believed that it was the responsibility of black people in the United States to be sensitive to the struggles that were and still are affecting our people across the globe, especially in the Congo.

Written by Dylan Legend