Hopefully, as different governments, including the drcs own, slowly improve the infrastructure, economic political and social stability can be found in the coming years. Major issues since the war that took place in august of 1998, the drc has encountered many internal problems over the recent decade. Human trafficking in the democratic republic of congo. The largest francophone country in africa, the democratic republic of congo drc, endowed with vast natural resources, has nearly 80 million inhabitants, fewer. Throughout 2018, government officials and security forces. The democratic republic of congo faces a worsening humanitarian, human rights, and security crisis.
This part of the web site looks at the conflict in the democratic republic of congo. Our target groups include poor and vulnerable women, adolescent girls and boys as well as displaced and returning populations. Water in crisis spotlight democratic republic of congo. The mindset of most international actors in drc remains one where. According to the unep study, entitled water issues in the democratic republic of congo challenges and opportunities, in addition to major infrastructure improvements, an investment of. Major issues conflicts in the democratic republic of the. Care in the democratic republic of the congo has strengthened its structure and strategy to assist the most vulnerable members of congolese society eradicate poverty and reduce their vulnerability to social injustice. In 1961, the democratic republic of congo drc was destabilized by army mutinies, unrests, riots, rebellions and the secession of the countrys richest region, katanga, soon followed by a similar move in the southeastern kasai province, which declared itself the independent mining state of south kasai. Examining the terrible rape problem that afflicts the democratic republic of the congo drc at least 200,000 people have been raped in drc since 1996.
The democratic republic of congo is a country located in central africa that is rich in natural resources including copper, gold, silver and petroleum. Forty years later, on july 10, 1999, drc, along with angola, namibia, zimbabwe, rwanda, and uganda, signed the lusaka ceasefire agreement for a cessation of hostilities between all belligerent forces in the congo. It was presided over by then president mobutu and had branches at every administrative level throughout the country. Help children in the democratic republic of congo save. Aug 21, 2010 this part of the web site looks at the conflict in the democratic republic of congo.
For example, it documented that 660 pounds of undeclared gold transited each month from bukavu to rwanda and burundi. Democratic republic of the congo united states department. Over the last two years, the situation has massively deteriorated due to an increase in the scale and number of conflicts in the country. This impacts economic growth domestically and internationally. The world bank is helping to fight poverty and improve living standards for the people of the democratic republic of congo, through education, energy, health and other social services. Major problems facing dr congo today africa and the. The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a complex pattern of historical forces. Civil wars and militia conflicts have plagued the republic of congo, which is sometimes referred to as congobrazzaville. Decades of war, violence, and poverty have claimed the lives of over five million people. The democratic republic of congo drc has one of the highest incidences of poverty in the world.
The who country health profile of democratic republic of the congo provides key statistics and links to health topical databases, plus news, features and bulletin journal articles on the health issues of the country. It has a brutal history of political unrest and violence, leaving millions living in deep poverty and at risk of exploitation. Dr congo has a total land area of about 2,344,858sq. The rapid increase in global trade restructures the global economy. Media coverage is poor and yet there have been millions of refugees and over five million killed since the war began around august 1998. Yet the rich country leaders and their media drew everyones attention to 2000 ethnic albianians being killed in kosovo to gain support for a war there. Citizens are unable to freely exercise basic civil liberties, and corruption is endemic throughout the government. Drc presidential decree of state of emergency the government of the drc has declared a state of emergency effective march 24 to limit the spread of covid19. Democratic republic of the congo population media center. Mar 22, 2011 according to the unep study, entitled water issues in the democratic republic of congo challenges and opportunities, in addition to major infrastructure improvements, an investment of. As of march 24, the democratic republic of congo had only fortyeight confirmed cases of coronavirus, with three dead of the disease. The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a complex pattern of. The ungoe reported a large part of the gold that was allegedly sourced from rwanda and uganda was obtained fraudulently in neighboring countries, including the democratic republic of the congo.
State of infrastructure in the democratic republic of the congo. Water issues in the democratic republic of the congo. Key demographic indicators for democratic republic of the congo. Learn about sources of continued violence in the democratic republic of congo and how the united nations, african union, and neighboring countries are struggling to curtail it. The country has been poliofree for four years, a major achievement given its size and the lack of infrastructure for delivering health services. Having recently entered its second year, the outbreak of the ebola virus disease in the democratic republic of the congo drc continues to challenge national, regional, and international health. The democratic republic of congodrc has one of the highest incidences of poverty in the world. Democratic republic of congo also known as congo kinshasa is the 2nd largest country in africa by total land area. The consequences have been devastating for the congolese people, with some 4. Yet the rich country leaders and their media drew everyones attention to 2000 ethnic albianians being killed in kosovo to gain. In response to a request from the government of the democratic republic of the congo drc, in 2009 the united nations environment programme unep initiated a national, multithematic assessment of priority environmental issues facing the country. Pressure the democratic republic of the congo to implement the saint sylvester agreement on a march 7, 2018 letter to representative christopher smith, archbishop timothy p.
Broglio encouraged the house of representatives to pass a resolution that would encourage the administration to pressure the government of the democratic republic of the congo to. The democratic republic of the congos economic freedom score is 49. The state of democracy in the democratic republic of congo. The visit is designed to address the congolese authorities.
Usccb issues and action human life and dignity global issues africa democratic republic of the congo printable version may the risen lord break down the walls of hostility that today divide brothers and sisters, especially in south sudan and the democratic republic of congo. The democratic republic of the congo is a source, destination, and possibly a transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Pmc hopes to improve life for as many people living in the democratic republic of the congo as possible, addressing issues like maternal and child health, nutrition, education, and gender equality. The modern history of the democratic republic of the congo is marred by tragedy and injustice.
Democratic republic of the congo history britannica. The government of the democratic republic of the congo drc does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. When rumors and fake news are spreading on social networks, the best way to address the issue is to publish and share the. Local humanitarian action in the democratic republic of congo. The cities lie at the downstream end of an almost circular widening in the river. Nearly half the population lives in poverty, according to the world bank. The democratic republic of congo is widely considered one of the worlds richest countries in natural resources. Africa congo, democratic republic of the the world.
But although congo is only in the very first stages of the pandemic, the contrast between the degree of state capacity and social discipline that it takes to stifle the disease and congos record on these two counts is particularly worrisome. The congo has 70% of the worlds coltan, a third of its cobalt, more than 30% of its diamond reserves, and a tenth of its copper. Democratic republic of the congo political process. Greenland, and russia in international environmental issues. Usccb issues and action human life and dignity global issues africa democratic republic of the congo printable version may the risen lord break down the walls of hostility that today divide brothers and sisters, especially in south sudan and the democratic republic of. Embassy kinshasa, democratic republic of the congo march 25, 2020 location. Care in the democratic republic of congo drc has strengthened its structure and strategy to assist the most vulnerable members of congolese society eradicate poverty and reduce their vulnerability to social injustice. Major issues conflicts in the democratic republic of the congo.
Jan 14, 2018 infrastructure in the democratic republic of the congo requires the cooperation of many parties in order to see substantial improvement. In 2008, at the request of the government of the democratic republic of congo dr congo, the united nations environment programme unep established a country programme and a project office in the capital, kinshasa. In terms of population size, dr congo is the fourth most populous country in africa today with a population of about 81. The democratic republic of congos rape problem youtube. Social media are now one of the main space for the democratic debate. The use of mobile phones in drc is beginning to alleviate major social issues and solve infrastructure problems. The democratic republic of the congo is a country located in central africa poverty. This astronaut image shows two capital cities brownishgray areas on opposite banks of the congo river.
State of infrastructure in the democratic republic of the. The political system in the democratic republic of congo drc has been paralyzed in recent years by the repeated postponement of elections, though highly problematic balloting was finally held at the end of 2018. The democratic republic of congo drc is one of the worst countries in which to be a child. Violence has plagued the democratic republic of congo drc since its emergence from belgian colonial rule in 1960.
While the name of the country surely lends itself to an assumption of regime type, in actuality, this area has experienced great civil unrest over the last five decades, resulting in an extremely tenuous socalled democracy. In 1998, the democratic republic of congo became part of what some people called africas first world war, in a conflict between seven african nations. Increasing conflict and a lack of political infrastructure create a growing. Mpr was the sole legal political party from 1970 until 1990. Brutal colonization by the kingdom of belgium followed by the assassination of the democraticallyelected leader after the nations independence from belgium in 1960 led to a westernbacked dictator, joseph mobutu, establishing rule. Although drc is experiencing relatively high levels of overall economic growth, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Democratic republic of the congo political process britannica. Crisis in democratic republic of congo oxfam international. Help children in the democratic republic of congo save the. Democratic republic of congo also known as congokinshasa is the 2nd largest country in africa by total land area. Social issues in the democratic republic of congo wikipedia. Facts and statistics about the environment current issues of democratic republic of the congo. Nov 21, 2017 the democratic republic of congo is a country located in central africa that is rich in natural resources including copper, gold, silver and petroleum.
Jan 22, 2016 social media are now one of the main space for the democratic debate. Democratic republic of the congo democratic republic of the congo political process. Increasing numbers of families and children are being displaced due to violence and conflict. Democratic republic of congo has been engulfed in a complex humanitarian crisis for decades.
Senior security force officers in the democratic republic of congo mobilized at least 200 and likely many more former m23 rebel fighters from neighboring uganda and rwanda to protect president. Rapid growth opens new opportunities is a special report prepared by the washington times international advocacy department. The smaller city on the north side of the river is brazzaville, while the larger, kinshasa, is on the south side. Democratic republic of the congo environment current issues. In the democratic republic of congo, journalists struggle. Violence in the democratic republic of congo global. There are many reasons why the war broke out, including conflicts over minerals, water, and food. The problems associated with democratic reform in the democratic republic of the congo drc are manifold. Social impacts of artisanal cobalt mining in katanga, democratic republic of congo iv 5 impact on workers 27 5. Social impacts of artisanal cobalt mining in katanga.