THE HEART OF AFRICA Written by Jasmine Denny
Natural Resources, Economic Issues, and Political Disputes and their effects on the Culture of the Congo
100
The Congolese people are tremendously diverse. They reflect the vast assortment and varying customs that exist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many influences have been combined with the traditional ways during the era of colonization, when King Leopold ll from the Belgian Congo (currently known as the DRC) formally surrendered personal control over the state, Belgian Congo, and the Congolese gained independence. Currently the DRC is in arduous journey, much of the culture here is at a great loss because of the arisen conflict over the past few decades.
“Much of this conflict has arisen from violence between the Forces armees de la Republique democratique du Congo (FARDC, Armed Forces of the DRC) and several rebel factions, including the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), Maï-Maï Sheka, and M23. This persistent violence, coupled with the struggle for control of the DRC’s natural resources, continues to further destabilize an already-fragmented nation.” (ICRP, 2013)
The country’s major natural resources consist of cobalt, diamonds, gold, and copper. This has been an immense struggle for the DRC because rebel forces are getting funding from extraction of some of the ores. Resources have been pillaged from and by both Congolese and foreign soldiers, civilians, and more. Many problems stem from competition for natural resources; including disturbance of families, sexual assault, illness, child labor, and environmental damage.
Not only natural resources, but economic issues, and political disputes have had many effects on the culture of the Congo. Much distrust is in all the communities and tribes from rebel factions, and continuous violence. This has also lead to awful effects on soldiers, and civilians. These occurrences have changed much in the DRC and hopefully with time and agreement, the DRC can find it’s way back to their traditional customs.
Many of these disruptions, have lead to a fall-back in culture. The DRC has many traditional customs, ranging from music to amazing art like sculptures and masks. With so much violence, it has greatly taken the focus away from these astonishing attributes. If a decrease in disputes materializes along the way, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be on a much steadier, creative path into the future.
Tutsi are generally cattle herders. There are many other cultures and groups as well, and much of the conflict has come from the struggle to control the Congo’s natural resources. (Friends of the Congo, 2014)
“Much of this conflict has arisen from violence between the Forces armees de la Republique democratique du Congo (FARDC, Armed Forces of the DRC) and several rebel factions, including the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), Maï-Maï Sheka, and M23. This persistent violence, coupled with the struggle for control of the DRC’s natural resources, continues to further destabilize an already-fragmented nation.” (ICRP, 2013)
The country’s major natural resources consist of cobalt, diamonds, gold, and copper. This has been an immense struggle for the DRC because rebel forces are getting funding from extraction of some of the ores. Resources have been pillaged from and by both Congolese and foreign soldiers, civilians, and more. Many problems stem from competition for natural resources; including disturbance of families, sexual assault, illness, child labor, and environmental damage.
Not only natural resources, but economic issues, and political disputes have had many effects on the culture of the Congo. Much distrust is in all the communities and tribes from rebel factions, and continuous violence. This has also lead to awful effects on soldiers, and civilians. These occurrences have changed much in the DRC and hopefully with time and agreement, the DRC can find it’s way back to their traditional customs.
Many of these disruptions, have lead to a fall-back in culture. The DRC has many traditional customs, ranging from music to amazing art like sculptures and masks. With so much violence, it has greatly taken the focus away from these astonishing attributes. If a decrease in disputes materializes along the way, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be on a much steadier, creative path into the future.