The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been described as the "richest patch of earth on the planet." It's also described as the most violent country in the world. Armed groups act like a mafia. Most of these armed groups come from neighboring countries, Uganda and Rwanda. They control the richest mining area of Congo (DRC)...close to the borders of their countries. The many mineral mines in east DRC are taxed by these militias. With the HUGE amount of money they make, they turn around and buy more weapons (which country, company is making money off these rebels$$$?). They intimidate, kill, commit human rights abuses on the population by using their favorite torture method of choice.. RAPE.
The smuggled minerals (gold, tin, tantalum, tungsten) are sent to countries in Asia and then bought up by world companies who make such things as cell phones, lap tops, Blackberries, I-Pods, video game systems and digital cameras.
The DRC is rich with many other minerals.. diamonds, copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, uranium, niobium. Tantalum, mentioned in previous paragraph is also known as coltan.
Just recently the news reported that "U.N. peacekeepers in Congo are violating the laws of war and should immediately stop backing Congolese troops who have deliberately killed hundreds of civilians in an operation to oust rebels in eastern Congo, Human Rights Watch said."
"Human Rights Watch said it had documented "vicious and widespread" attacks against civilians by soldiers and rebels between January and September. Soldiers being fed and supplied with ammunition by the United Nations have killed civilians, gang-raped girls and cut the heads off some young men, human rights and international aid groups said."
My note: This is interesting but very sad. We have the rebels from both Uganda and Rwanda butchering and raping those living in eastern, mineral rich, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the same time we have the UN and US backed Congolese troops doing the same thing. On top of that, the UN troops too have been accused of rape, of arming the militias and accused of smuggling gold and ivory from the DRC. Seems to be no "good guys" in this situation. It's all about greed and....
As always... follow the money $$$.
UN troops armed DR Congo rebels (April 2008)
Report: UN-Backed Congo troops killing civilians ( Dec 14, 2009)
60 minutes' Congo report puts jewelers on hot seat (Nov 2009)
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