Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Peter Langan & Jake O’Flahavan
What is Genocide?
• Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large group of
people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or
nation.
Background Information
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Began in 1996
5.4 million deaths
Bloodiest conflict since WWII
DRC is located in central Africa
http://www.africashippinglogistics.com/export/dr-congo/
Causes
• After the genocide in Rwanda ended in 1994, Hutu perpetrators fled into
eastern provinces of the DRC to form the FDLR.
• FDLR means Democratic Forces for Liberation od Rwanda, they are a rebel
group in East DRC
• They are composed of ethnic Hutus who oppose Tutsi rule.
• This conflict formed the genocide.
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Causes
http://www.hhpz.org
/index.cfm/id/4378/
?clearcache=1
• Two largest ethnic groups in this region. Hutus make up 85% of the
population while Tutsi make up 14%.
• The RPF, a Tutsi-led militia defeated the Hutu movement in July, 1994.
• Immediately following the defeat, nearly 2 million Hutus fled into
neighboring countries to avoid a potential Tutsi retribution.
• This influx of Hutu in the DRC, among other factors led to the first Congo
War in 1996.
First Congo War
• Refugee camps served as de facto army bases for Hutu
militants. They terrorized and robbed the local
population.
• Then in October 1996, Tutsi in the region led an uprising
to force the Hutus out of the Congo, sparking the First
Congo war.
• This war lasted from October 1996 to September 1997
when Kabila took over as president of the Newly formed
Democratic Republic of the Congo
http://www.bbc.com/news/w
orld-africa-11108589
http://www.hossit.com/war-congo/
2nd Congo War
• Also known as The Great War of Africa.
• August 1997 – July 2003
• Despite new government the eastern government to be an unstable war
zone.
• The new president turned on his supporters (Rwanda and Uganda) and
allowed Hutu armies to regroup in eastern Congo.
2nd Congo War
• This betrayal resulted in a joint invasion of Rwanda and Ugandan forces into
Eastern Congo in 1998.
• Other countries came to Kabila’s help which slowed the Rwandan and
Ugandan troops.
• This conflict lasted for five years.
https://katsafrica.wordpr
ess.com/2012/05/28/fir
st-war-in-the-congotribalhostilities-reappear/
End Result
• Since the fighting began in 1998, around 5.4 million people died in the
Congo.
• Many of the deaths were indirectly caused by the war, malaria, and
malnutrition.
• The Hutu tribes that formed after the Rwandan genocide, terrorized
neighboring villages.
Pledge awareness
• We pledge awareness to stop genocide, and keep the world safe from terror
and evil.
• - Jake O’Flahavan and Peter Langan..
https://twitter.com/end
genocide/status/691625
525652094977
Bibliography
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http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/congo
http://endgenocide.org/conflict-areas/dr-congo-backgrounder/
http://borgenproject.org/5-facts-congo-war/
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/1129/Abrief-history-of-Congo-s-wars