The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the second largest country in Africa, has been in a state of war since 1996. Over the last 21 years, it is estimated that somewhere around six million lives have been taken. This harsh truth is indicative of great injustice.
Protests in the DRC. Photo via crf.org.
The DRC conflict began with the Rwandan Genocide: one of the world’s largest genocides. Over three months, extremist Hutus in the DRC were working to eliminate the Tutsis.
Ten years ago, this war was considered the deadliest war since World War II. Ten years later, that reality is sealed. If this war is more deadly than the Holocaust, then why are we as a nation not getting involved? Raphael Parens, a fellow in the Foreign Policy Institute wrote a year ago that there could be detrimental consequences for the world if there is not a peace operation taking place to bring about peace to central and eastern Africa.
Unfortunately, the military in the DRC is suffering from immense corruption. This is making it hard for peacekeeping operations in the region to be effective.
The DRC has many natural resources which make the country very desirable for miners. They are the third largest diamond producer on the planet; however, they are also the world’s largest producer of cobalt and many other natural materials. Because of their richness of materials, the DRC suffers from illegal exportation—smuggling.
Peacekeeping operations in the DRC have provided little stability, and it has been reported that they contribute more harm than good in the heart of the conflict, even physically assaulting citizens.
The DRC has a presidential election next month, which “Global Conflict Tracker” considers highly contested. Many sources are claiming that the DRC has been on the brink of war for some time. This can only mean bad things for central and eastern Africa. With a death toll of six million so far, a formal declaration of war would only raise that number.
A prayer for those suffering of war in the DRC:
Dear Sovereign Father, please let your light shine in the Dominican Republic of the Congo. Bring your righteous justice on those who are suffering from injustice. Please bring your radical peace and love to this troubled nation, and no longer allow for the violence, injustice and persecution to continue in secret. Make known the atrocities which are taking place to the rest of the world, and may you send your agents of grace and peace to the center of this conflict. Lord, please use us for your will, and help us to bring peace and stability to this country, which has not seen peace in over 20 years. We pray this earnestly in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus
Christ, Amen.