What caused the civil war in Congo?
The most deciding event in precipitating the war was the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994, which sparked a mass exodus of refugees known as the Great Lakes refugee crisis. During the 100-day genocide, hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and sympathizers were massacred at the hands of predominantly Hutu aggressors.
Why is there conflict in the eastern DRC?
Despite a peace deal in 2002 and the formation of a transitional government in 2003, ongoing violence perpetrated by armed groups against civilians in the eastern region has continued, largely due to poor governance, weak institutions, and rampant corruption.
Was the Congo crisis a civil war?
Constituting a series of civil wars, the Congo Crisis was also a proxy conflict in the Cold War, in which the Soviet Union and the United States supported opposing factions. Around 100,000 people are believed to have been killed during the crisis.
How many died in Congo civil war?
Since 1996, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC; Congo) has been embroiled in violence that has killed as many as 6 million people. The conflict has been the world’s bloodiest since World War II.
Why is Congo split two?
It used to be the French territory Middle Congo. The name Congo stems from the Bakongo, a Bantu tribe that populate the area. The two countries are separated not only by different colonial roots, but by the Congo River (or Zaire River), the second-longest river in Africa.
How many civil wars did the Congo have?
Republic of the Congo Civil War (1993–1994) Republic of the Congo Civil War (1997–1999)
Why is the Congo so violent?
Much of this continuing violence is a result of long-lasting animosity between the Tutsis, the Hutus, and other groups. Other factors of the continued violence are control of land, control of minerals, and economic tensions.
What is the biggest problem in Congo?
Decades of war, violence, and poverty have claimed the lives of over five million people. An absence of schools, health care, and reliable income-generating opportunities hinder communities’ ability to emerge from crisis. Despite overwhelming odds, there is hope across eastern Congo today.
When did the two Congos split?
On August 15, 1960 it got its independence under the name “Republic of the Congo”. Today, in order to avoid confusion, the countries are often referred to by their capitals. Congo Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) and Congo Kinshasa (DRC).
Is the Congo war still going on?
The war officially ended in July 2003, when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power.
What did King Leopold do in the Congo?
On February 5, 1885, Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State by brutally seizing the African landmass as his personal possession. Rather than control the Congo as a colony, as other European powers did throughout Africa, Leopold privately owned the region.
Why did Zaire change Congo?
Destabilisation in the east resulting from the 1994 Rwandan genocide led to a 1996 invasion led by Rwanda, which led to Mobutu’s ousting in the First Congo War the following year. Laurent-Désiré Kabila then became the new president, reverting the country’s name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.