Democratic Republic of Congo

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• Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a nominally independent country in Middle Africa subjected to neo-colonial exploitation by western powers, namely the United States. It is the considered the most resource-rich countries in the world.

History

The history of the Congo exemplifies the senseless barbarism of the west’s profit-driven foreign policy, a history of war and genocide. Beginning with the reign of King Leopold in 1885-1905, the Congolese working class and their children were forced to collect rubber for export; refusal to participate or insufficient rubber production was met with anything from dismemberment of one’s hands to the wholesale massacre of their village (a period known as the “Rubber Terror”).

Independence

Congo won its independence in 1960 with the leadership of Patrice Lumumba, who supported Congolese control of its rich mineral resources. The US and Belgium intervened to violently overthrow the democratically-elected Lumumba in favor of the dictatorship of Mobuto Sese Seko.

First and Second Congo Wars

In 1996, Rwanda and Uganda invaded the country—armed and trained by the US and UK, in what is now known as the First and Second Congo Wars (a.k.a. Africa’s World War), ravaging the Congo and its neighboring countries until 2003. The ensuing violence is believed to have resulted in over 5 million Congolese deaths.

Economy

“As long as we think that we should get Mississippi straightened out before we worry about the Congo, you’ll never get Mississippi straightened out, not until you start realizing your connection with the Congo.” – Malcolm X.

Today, vicious exploitation of the Congo continues, primarily for mining coltan and cobalt (used for batteries powering smartphones and green technology such as electric vehicles), as well as gold, tin, copper, and other vital natural resources worth an estimated $24 Trillion. DR-Congo is the site of 70% of the world’s cobalt production. With unmistakable parallels to the Rubber Terror under King Leopold, children—many of whom were trafficked—have supplied the labor for mining these minerals, while current President, Felix Tshisekedi (whose election victory is widely believed to have been fraudulent) has inflicted violent state repression onto Congolese citizens protesting their conditions. Among the major US-based companies profiting from these subhuman conditions and atrocities are mainly the Big Tech monopolies, such as Alphabet (parent company of Google), Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and Tesla. Continued US involvement in DR-Congo has also been motivated by a fear of growing investment into the country by China and Russia, which would increasingly negate the ability of the USA to exploit the Congo of its vast resource wealth.

The country has also seen diseases, such as Ebola and cholera outbreaks, further claim the lives of many citizens, owing to a lack of quality public health facilities. Hunger is also a major issue, with about 25.8 million Congolese (about 26% of its population) facing acute food insecurity.

Violent conflict within the country, perpetrated largely by foreign belligerents, has also contributed to the collapse of order and mass-displacement, with the number of refugees from Congo surpassing (by some estimates) the number of refugees created by the US war in Iraq and US military intervention in Syria. A UN report suggests that the actions of Rwanda-backed combatants rise to the level of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly support a finding of genocide.