Opinion

The Democratic Republic of Congo: The forgotten raged war

As our country debates whether or not we are at war with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, most people are unaware of the ongoing, deadliest war since World War II: the Second Congo War, a conflict most would consider to be over the immense natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The vast amounts of gold, copper, diamonds and a mineral used in electronics called coltan are the economic incentives for the war to continue.

The decade of war in the DRC has claimed over 5 million lives, which is more than double the death tolls in the latest wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and the twice the projected death toll of the current Ebola outbreak. In addition to the countless deaths, the United Nations has labeled the DRC as the “rape capital of the world,” where rape is used as a “weapon of war” and an average of 1,100 woman are raped every single day.

The atrocities that are happening in the DRC appear to be going unnoticed by most in the media and people of this country. Where is the outrage about what is going on in the DRC? Where are the outpour of donations?

The concern and donations for this catastrophe appears non-existent — so non-existent that the U.N. World Food Program recently announced that it has been forced to cut back on aid in eastern Congo due to huge declines in funding and donations. Now more than 4 million Congolese are further put in danger by the added risk of death, due to malnutrition and hunger.

What is the reason for the lack of concern for the people of the DRC? Is it due to the geographical distance of the DRC to this country? Maybe it is because the U.S. has no interest in what goes on in the Congo — because we do not see the connection to us.

However, what if I said that the war in the DRC may have a direct link to our country, our school, to us? What if I suggested that you and I hold some power that could assist in eliminating the atrocities that are happening in the DRC?

When the aforementioned mineral coltan is refined, it becomes tantalum — which is essential to the production of most electronics used by most everyone at this university. Smart phones, laptops and computers are the link between the consumers of this country and the fatality-ridden, rape capital of the world.

Although the DRC has the largest reserves of this mineral, it can also be found in other places such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Burundi and Rwanda. The import of this resource from the DRC has contributed to the ongoing civil war that has led to the rape, torture and hardships, as well as the deaths of women, children and men.

They are people just like us, the only difference that remains is that we had the good fortune of being born in our country instead of theirs. For those wondering what can be done about this issue, one can join the Conflict-Free Campus Initiative. This campaign is hopeful that the power of students can help bring about peace in Congo.

The CFCI encourages students to advocate for the people of the DRC by persuading their university officials to use their consumer power to demand changes from the electronic companies. If most of the large universities took part in this movement, the companies that supply them with their computers and other electronics would be forced to take measures to ensure the minerals in their supply chain.

If UH would join the other 150 schools across the U.S., U.K. and Canada and commit to these measures, electronic companies would be forced to adapt to the new demand. We should insist that the University buys conflict-free when it is available and we, as students, should expect nothing less from our top tier university.

For more about the CFCI visit: http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-free-campus-initiative.

Jacki Long is a second-year student at the Graduate College of Social Work.

3 Comments

  • I am in love with this article! And indeed, why is no other country trying to raise Congo from the bottom and help instead of sitting back and watching hundreds of people being raped, murdered etc everyday! I want to make a change immediantly

  • I don’t understand why other countries are not stepping in to prevent this from happening. What happened to the belief that every life matters? Everyday 1,100 women are raped, and I feel guilty that I live in such a safe community when this happening to innocent females. Do other countries not care about what’s going on in Congo, or are they too scared? Death tolls are immensely increasing everyday and no change is occurring. I think that we as people should stand up for what’s right and drill some sense into the other countries of the world.

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