Caught In The Crossfire
Those Congolese who do not farm usually work in mines, or the lumber industry. The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to a vast plethora of natural resources. Cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, timber and the potential for hydropower (CIA, 2014) all provide work of Congolese, but also cause controversy. There are many reports of rebel troops or other groups of people attacking all the women in a certain village to intimidate the locals into handing over resources. Also, the D.R.C.'s diamond industry is notoriously dangerous. These diamonds, known as "conflict diamonds", are worth billions of dollars an often fund warlords and armed conflict. To date, these conflicts that are funded by diamonds have cost approximately 3.7 million lives.
War has ceased in the Democratic Republic of Congo at least for now, though the fighting and hostility is never ending. Their perseverance despite conflict shows that the Congolese people are strong enough to deal with whatever comes. For better or for worse, the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo stay stubbornly true to their tradition, culture, and beliefs.