by Selenna

Created on: May 18, 2008   Last Updated: June 12, 2008

The Democratic Republic of Congo has long been an epicenter of conflict and corruption in the Kivu region. The conflict is fuelled by the fact that the country is the richest in the world in terms of natural resources, and all sides have taken full advantage to plunder these resources through illegal trade and use of the wealth gained to attain arms and control in all areas. The influential nations benefit from these resources, including neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, countries that constantly add fuel to the fire of unrest within the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to attempt control over the natural resources.

The DRC was established as a Belgian colony in 1908 and was known as the Republic of Congo. At this time the country was a center for slave trade and slavery for mining. In 1960, the Republic gained its independence with its name being changed to Zaire by Col. Joseph Mobutu, who declared himself president in November of 1965. In 1997 rebels aided by Rwanda took the capital and placed Laurent-Desin Kabila in the Presidency. In 1998 Kabila was attacked himself by the same factions that put him in the presidency the year before, but remained in office until he was assassinated by a body guard in 2001 and succeeded by his eldest son.

One of the key obstacles in the gaining of peace is the lack of an effective central government. Some of the officials which preside incur corruption at every turn and the government troops cannot be trusted, especially on the subject of human rights. There is constant corruption, tension, and mistrust of the leaders and the constant transfer of power within the ranks increase these aspects. Government troops, which have been accused of abandoning their posts and stealing goats from the local population, and the rebels of the country, are frequently blamed for rapes, looting, abductions, and massacres. Quite a number of the soldiers, in government troops and militia, are young children abducted and forced into service. Neither side is at all disciplined or trained and both are frequently out of hand.

Malnutrition and disease play a large part in the deaths of the Democratic Republic of Congo that in essence has been brought about by this conflict. The majority of the population has little or no access to health care in a country where there are regular epidemic outbreaks such as plaque, ebola, meningitis, hepatitis, cholera and the parasitic disease "sleeping sickness". Unhealthy living conditions and malnutrition make outbreaks of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea a common occurrence and can make even a common cold life threatening. The steady flow of violence inhibits medical care and the ability to get medical supplies even more difficult. Transportation of food and water to the many displaced people to curb malnutrition is almost impossible.

According to Amnesty International disarmament and disbanding of individual militia and the reintegration of government troops with a single, uniform, and accountable chain of command and proper training especially in areas of human rights is a must for the stability of the Democratic Republic of Congo and improvement of human rights. If achieved this process would allow the displaced families to return to a somewhat normal life, allow aid and medical supplies to get to the places they are needed and bring the stability necessary for economic growth.

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