Violence has escalated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the past 10 years, more than 5 million people have died there, making it the deadliest conflict since World War II. Ernesto Verdeja, assistant professor of political science and peace studies, is an expert in political violence and its aftermath. His recent research is a comparative study of genocide in Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, and Rwanda.
How is the conflict in the Congo related to Rwanda?
The immediate roots of the conflict lie in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when Hutu escaping the approaching Tutsi rebel force fled to eastern Congo. The fleeing Hutu included members of the Rwandan armed forces and interahamwe, the militia who carried much of the actual genocide. A succession of wars in Congo from 1996 to the present has further destabilized the Congo. Joseph Kabila, president of Congo and former ally of Tutsi Rwanda, is today engaged in a vicious fight with a Congolese Tutsi guerrilla force led by Laurent Nkunda. In recent weeks, Nkunda's Tutsi rebels have routed the Congolese army and are likely to seize the important city of Goma in eastern Congo.
Is this genocide?
Under international law, genocide refers to the intentional destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, national, or religious group. It’s not clear that any of the combatants are intending to exterminate their enemies in such a way. Many show little ideological cohesion, and instead seem to be fighting for material gain.
Much of the violence in Congo over the past decade has been driven by the search for gold, diamonds, and coltan used in mobile phones. This isn't to say that genocide must be ideological — the law speaks of the intent to destroy, not the motives of perpetrators — but the intentions of the belligerents aren't very clear. Nevertheless, anti-Tutsi sentiment is strong in eastern Congo, and there is ample evidence that ethnic Tutsi have been targeted for massacre. All sides have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The fighting continues, despite several peace agreements, a new constitution, elections, and the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces. What can be done?
Nkunda claims to be fighting for the interests of ethnic Tutsi, and any sustainable peace agreement will have to address their plight, as well as ensure that Rwanda stops supporting the Tutsi rebels. This, however, hinges on severing the links between President Kabila's armed forces and the Rwandan Hutu guerrillas who carried out the Rwandan genocide.
The UN force is stretched thin throughout a number of hotspots in the Congo and is under-equipped to stop the fighting in the east. The UN Security Council and world leaders should make the Congo a priority and be committed to contributing resources that will guarantee security. This, in conjunction with ongoing UN mediated talks between the combatants, may stabilize the situation and bring peace to eastern Congo. In fact, Nkunda just announced that his forces would begin to withdraw from some of their positions and halt fighting in an effort to encourage further talks.
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