UPRIGHT THINKING By Madaraka Nyerere
Once again, war has erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking another chapter in the country’s long history of violence. To understand the roots of this persistent conflict, one must look beyond the current players and examine the DRC’s pre-colonial past.
“While today’s factions bear significant responsibility for the chaos, the foundations of this turmoil were laid during the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885.” At this conference, European powers, with no African representation, partitioned Africa into colonial territories. The arbitrary borders drawn divided African communities, ignoring affinities and splitting others across multiple nations, sowing the seeds for future conflict.
The exploitation of the Congo began in earnest with King Leopold II of Belgium seizing the region as his personal fiefdom. Over the next 71 years, Leopold’s reign was marked by brutal atrocities and a voracious extraction of the country’s resources. When Leopold’s personal rule ended in 1908, the Belgian government took control, continuing the same policies of repression and resource exploitation.
Despite gaining independence in 1960, the DRC’s situation did not improve. Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister, was seen as a threat by both Belgian and U.S. interests. In a move that would shape the country’s future for decades, Western powers orchestrated his ousting and assassination, paving the way for the rise of Joseph Mobutu. Mobutu’s regime continued the colonial legacy of ethnic division and resource extraction, further destabilizing the nation.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Rwanda, Belgian colonizers created an ethnic hierarchy that placed the Tutsi minority in power over the Hutu majority. These tensions culminated in the Rwandan genocide of 1994. After the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) took power, many Rwandese—some of whom were involved in the genocide—fled to the DRC, becoming key drivers of conflict between the two countries. Both governments accuse each other of supporting rebel groups fighting in each other’s territory, with the M23 Movement backed by Rwanda and the FDLR supported by the DRC.
At the heart of much of the DRC’s conflict lies ethnic tension, but the country’s vast mineral wealth also plays a crucial role in fueling violence. With the global demand for minerals like coltan, cobalt, and diamonds, armed groups battle for control of territories to illegally exploit these resources, exacerbating the conflict.
The DRC’s crisis cannot be resolved through military means alone. The country is vast, and the government lacks full control over its territory. However, peace is possible. The Addis Ababa peace framework outlines key steps such as a ceasefire, inclusive negotiations, political reforms, good governance, justice and reconciliation, and economic development. If followed, these steps offer the best hope for lasting peace in the DRC.
