Background information on DRC

Colonial Past

In July 2006, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held its first free elections in four decades. This marked an end to a five year conflict, called Africa's First World War, which involved five African countries and claimed the lives of over three million people. Since the elections however, insurgency violence has resurfaced and the government is faced with high internal tension and widespread corruption.

After gaining independence from Belgium's ninety-year colonial rule in 1960, several years of army mutiny and political instability transpired. In 1965, Joseph Mobutu took office in a coup against Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and renamed the country to Zaire. He ruled largely unchallenged for 25 years and generated large personal fortunes during his rule, while the majority of the country lived in poverty.

Diamonds, Copper & Oil

The DRC is a country rich in diamonds, copper and crude oil. But corruption and government weaknesses enabled insurgency groups, such as Laurent Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation, to gain control over resource-rich areas and use revenue to fund its rebellion.

In 1997, Rwanda invaded Zaire to control the Hutu militias that had spilled over the borders. With support from Rwandan forces, Kabila was installed as president and Zaire was renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But gaining control over resource-rich areas also attracted the forces which helped Kabila into power. In 1998, two insurgency militaries, the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), backed by Rwanda, and the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), backed by Uganda, rose against Kabila. Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola sent troops to support Kabila, but rebel groups were able to take control over most of eastern DRC.

Rebels & Refugees

The resulting conflict is regarded as one of Africa's worst emergencies and spurred a humanitarian crisis. With vast areas of the country under rebel control, governmental revenue diminished and some two million people were internally displaced.

Over 15,000 children, some as young as eight years old, fought in armed groups during the conflict. Thomas Lubanga, commander of a RCD rebel fraction, is accused of forcing children into active combat and is currently facing trial at the International Criminal Court.

In 2002, all involved parties signed a peace agreement. A year later, formal peace was announced and a transitional government was formed. The first democratic elections in 2006, was won by Laurent Kabila's son and successor, Joseph Kabila.

The new government however, has failed to stabilise the DRC. Peace is increasingly fragile: large parts of the country are still controlled by insurgency groups, break outs of violence continue in the east, and the threat of civil war remains.