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Crisis in Congo

Shashank Bengali: This conflict could destabilize the whole region. Part 2

Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) is not new. Since it gained independence in 1960 it has been ravaged by war, tyranny and international economic opportunism. Despite a promise from rebel leader Laurent Nkunda to support a UN backed ceasefire, the fighting has not stopped between Nkunda’s forces and the Congolese government. Congo is bordered by eight different countries and McClatchy journalist Shashank Bengali believes that "there is potential for this conflict to destabilize the whole region."

Shashank Bengali is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and writes about sub-Saharan Africa. He has reported for McClatchy from more than 25 countries and covered conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq and Georgia. Before moving to Africa in 2005, he was a roving correspondent for The Kansas City Star. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Shashank studied at the University of Southern California and at Harvard University, where he earned a Master's degree in public policy. He speaks French and broken Kiswahili.

See Part 1 at: http://current.com/items/89540200/crisis_in_congo.htm
  • added November 19, 2008
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8 responses // Crisis in Congo

  •  

    I just had an acquaintance return from Kenya....she was over there to help some local villagers....evidently it was a really eye-opening experience. Thanks for the story and the link - I will tune into The Real News for other stories.

    PamelaSC
    1 response to this
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    Informative post about a horrific looming disaster.

    samthesixth
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    Mr Mugabwe must be quite pleased that the Congo is taking his country out of the international media.Let us not forget that.

    Since 1960 the people of the Congo region have had generation following generation knowing nothing else but fighting, to some extent it has similarities with Northern Ireland but not to the same killing sprees. Talking eventually solved many of the problems, some still fester but stability is winning through.

    Some way must be found out by all the powers that be including the countries bordering the Congo the UN and countries around the world. Help must be forthcoming and very quickly too

    themanwithadog
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    If "knowledge is power," why do we not want to KNOW personally our perceived enemies?

    artist_al_fine
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    Someone needs to write conflict resolution reports instead of conflicts...so many enlightened people in the world and yet still we dont know how to get along

    wendygoft
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    I don't know what to do?

    All our knowledge about Africa is concerning Darfur.

    Whereas, Rwanda had atrocities occur in the 90's and people fled into the Congo. Now the Congo is dealing with this volatile population. I don't know if nationalism can be blamed for this. Economic interest? Racism?

    How do you fix long held beliefs in this portion of the world. The number of women being raped creates deep seated hatred that is not easily forgiven. Rape has become a modality of war in modern warfare. With over 1 million women raped in Africa it creates something I don't know how to describe.

    How does NATO or any country try to fix such a caustic environment?

    There is no easy answer.

    Do we send in peace keeping troops from the U.S.? I think Africom may be necessary to prevent another type of holocaust.

    Do we have a moral responsibility to prevent people from being slaughtered, murdered, raped on a mass scale?

    Or should we only intervene if there is an economic bonus?

    I think we do have a responsibility. We should help. But I want peace in the world and thinks everyone has the right to medical care, water, and basic human rights.

    Crazy me!

    CaptB
  •  

    Thank you for posting the video.

    I personally think that the answer is not only complicated but also costly and lenghty.
    There is no easy answer, but that doesn't mean there can't be one.
    Of course, the priority now is to end the conflict at hand and be able to deliver humanitarian aid to those who need it most, for this international forces havce to be deployed, in order to back the peacekeeping force already in place. Avaaz, Amnesty international and other organisations are putting pressure on governments to take the necessary steps. After all, one of the reasons why the conflict in Congo then Zaire in 1996 started was due to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, where the Security Concil failed to act. This clearly shows that a conflict in one country can spark conflict in a neighbouring country quite easily. If a proper armed force with a military mandate was deployed under the command of the peacekeeping force much headway would be possible, since the UN has been present for a long time in the area and has the necessary knowledge to make a real impact.

    What can we do? Campaign, donate, raise funds, keep informed

    PamelaV

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