Crisis in the Congo

The current situation in the Congo was started twelve years ago following the genocide of Rwanda. Many genocidaires fled to the eastern Congo. Rebel groups seized control of the region, and militia groups and tribal groups took advantage of the regions mineral wealth.

Congo’s death toll has surpassed that of Afghanistan and Iraq combined. It is estimated that approximately five million people have died from illness and hunger that this issue has caused. Hundreds of thousands of women, in addition have been raped.

The United Nations has provided 20,000 soldiers from many countries. However, their efforts have failed. Some even believe that “peacekeepers sometimes make things worse. The current situation in the Congo is awful:

-Last year, President Joseph Kabila signed an agreement with a rebel group.

-It is also known that some of the worst crimes have been committed by Congo’s own corrupt army. This is happening as a result of the soldiers not being paid for months. Their military also consists of commanders have been associated with acts of terror that includes massacres, executions, rapes, recruitment of children, forced labour, forced evictions, illegal taxation and arbitrary arrests.

-The government is also trying to close the refugee camps that provide shelter for more than 1.4 million people. Many displaced people refuse to leave. Kauta Muhima, president of a committee of leaders at Kitchanga camp says that “people don’t want to go back home because the fighting is still going on. Some of us tried to go home, but there was fighting at night and they were slaughtered.” Stefano Argenziano, who works with doctors without borders, believes that the fighting is more dangerous than it was years ago.

Over the past year there have been occurrences that have cause encouragement. Last year, an alliance between the government and the National Congress for the Defence of the People was formed. The peace agreement has crippled a guerrilla group. However, these advancements are still not powerful enough to put a stop to all the violence in the Congo.

Although Canada’s contribution over the years has been small it has been important. Canada has contributed 440 military personnel. and contributes an annual budget of about 33 million dollars. These funds support the peacekeeping force, and their UN dues. I believe that the Canadian government is doing as much as they can in order to try and put an end to the horrible things that are happening in the Congo. The Canadian government is providing as much as they possibly can. Their contributions are not for the sake of Canada. They are for the sake of the people of the Congo.