Overview

The Congo/Zaire is the third largest country in Africa, perhaps too large. It's comprised of four major ethnic groups and over 200 smaller groups, or tribes. Many of these ethnic or tribal groups have home territories that extend beyond the national borders and there are complex relationships between groups. Since independence in 1960, Congo/Zaire has been ravaged by near continuous inter-ethnic and civil strife, claiming untold lives, plunging the country into chaos and poverty. The Congo has enormous mineral resources, gold, copper, uranium, diamonds, manganese, cobalt and hydroelectric power potential, making it a country of great strategic value and potential wealth. To date, these resources have been of little benefit to the impoverished people, but have added to the countries problems and conflict.

The Portuguese founded a coastal colony in 1480, began trading with the natives, intro-duced Catholicism and soon developed slave trade. In 1876, Henry Stanley first explored the Congo River and established Belgian trading posts. In 1885, Belgian King Leopold declared the Congo Free State, naming himself King, sole owner and proprietor, an especially honest gesture. Leopold abolished the slave trade, but virtually enslaved the entire state for his own benefit until 1908 when it was transformed into a Belgian colony. Belgium reaped a harvest of gold, diamonds, copper and other natural products.

In 1950, following the lead of other nations, natives began a movement for self-determination and achieved independence in 1960. Joseph Kasavubu was elected president, while Patrice Lumumba became prime minister. Factions of the army revolted and declared an independent state in the southern, copper-rich Katanga Province, under Moise Tshombe, as prime minister. Against UN wishes, Belgian troops arrived to restore order and maintain a single unified state. Driven by US influence a UN peacekeeping force was sent in. Kasavubu then expelled Lumumba, who fled, was captured and killed. Civil war continued until 1963, when Tshombe was appointed prime minister, while Kasavubu remained president.

In 1965, Kasavubu forced Tshombe to resign, prompting a CIA-supported military coup, in which Joseph Mobutu assumed power, changing the countries name to Zaire. Multinational corporations, needing stability to exploit Zaire's mineral wealth, welcomed Mobutu, who soon became a problem. The new president supported FNLA rebels in Angola, allied himself with racist South Africa and began amassing personal wealth through his corrupt rule. Disorganized rebels continued guerrilla warfare in remote areas, but were ruthlessly put-down and kept in government concentration camps, while the economy deteriorated.

In 1977, another revolt against the corrupt Mobutu regime was put down in Katanga/Shab province, with help from France, Egypt and Morocco and the rebels sought refuge in Angola. Zaire's mineral resources (uranium, cobalt, diamonds, and copper) are of strategic value, especially to aerospace technology. Dispensing with the political charade, the Western states took direct control of Zaire's minerals and mining industry, while the International Monetary Fund attempted to restructure the economy. However, Mobutu remained in power, working for himself, rather than the country. To the disadvantaged natives, this policy amounted to a return to colonialism, while mineral-rich Zaire became one the world's poorest countries. After Angola achieved independence, Zaire funneled substantial US aid and arms to Angolan rebels fighting against the leftist the MPLA.

Despite Mobutu's corrupt regime, he continued to receive US and World Bank support. Pressure to institute democratic reforms, Mobutu adopted a new constitution in 1991 and scheduled multi-party elections. But as opposition parties emerged, amid calls for Mobutu to resign, he responded with violence. Over 100 student demonstrators were killed at Lubumbashi University, provoking international protest. An opposition coalition of the major political parties called for Mobutu's resignation and encouraged a military coup, as uprisings spread throughout the country.

Amid continuing political turmoil, Mobutu fired the elected prime minister Tshisekedi, prompting France and Belgium to again send troops in 1993. With US influence, Mobutu was directed to honor the prime minister's election, but Mobutu refused, and continued using the army to maintain his personal hold on power.

As inter-ethnic violence erupted in 1994, between Hutus and Tutsis in neighboring Rwanda, the Zairian army sided with the Rwandan Hutus against the Tutsis, participating in the genocide being perpetrated in Rwanda.

In 1997, the army finally removed Mobutu and Lawrence Kabila assumed power, with assistance from Uganda and Rwanda, amid hopes of reform. Kabila changed the name back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and promised elections, but banned opposition parties and arrested the former, elected, prime minister Tshiskedi. Kabila then proceeded to alienate and anger his former allies. In August 1998, Congolese Tutsi revolted, with military support from Rwanda and Uganda, capturing territory inside the Congo's eastern border. Their advance toward Kinsasha was stopped when Kabila received military support from Zimbabwe and former adversaries, Angola and Nambia.

Given the Congo's history of revolving-door alliances, poverty, inter-ethnic differences and rich mineral resources, it is certain to remain an international hot spot, well into the 21st century.

Related Resources:

http://www.prairienet.org/acas/panafrican.html
http://www.prairienet.org/acas/panafrican.html

http://www.prairienet.org/panafrican/cdm/
http://www.prairienet.org/panafrican/cdm/

http://www.mlc-congo.org/
http://www.mlc-congo.org/

http://www.managingbusiness.com/mlc/
http://www.managingbusiness.com/mlc/

CongoLine
http://www.managingbusiness.com/mlc/

www.congoline.com
www.congoline.com