The Crisis in the Democratic The Crisis in the Democratic Republic of CongoRepublic of Congo

Dr. David Benoît-Mohan,Dr. David Benoît-Mohan,président,président,

Alliance Française de DétroitAlliance Française de Détroit

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DISCLOSURESDISCLOSURES

1.) The information in this presentation is based on the internet research of 1.) The information in this presentation is based on the internet research of Dr. David Benoît Mohan, who is solely responsible for its content.Dr. David Benoît Mohan, who is solely responsible for its content.

2.) Pictures and information is referenced where appropriate.2.) Pictures and information is referenced where appropriate.3.) The information presented is not endorsed by either the Alliance Française 3.) The information presented is not endorsed by either the Alliance Française

de Détroit or the government of the Democratic Republic of Congode Détroit or the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo4.) Only those slides referencing Doctors Without Borders contain information 4.) Only those slides referencing Doctors Without Borders contain information

from their websitesfrom their websites5.) Dr. David Benoît Mohan is not a member of Doctors Without Borders5.) Dr. David Benoît Mohan is not a member of Doctors Without Borders6.) Alliance Française de Détroit and its Board of Directors are supporters of 6.) Alliance Française de Détroit and its Board of Directors are supporters of

Doctors Without Borders, who are the beneficiaries of this event.Doctors Without Borders, who are the beneficiaries of this event.7.) This presentation is absolutely intended to be free of political and 7.) This presentation is absolutely intended to be free of political and

commercial bias, and was created to highlight the humanitarian situation commercial bias, and was created to highlight the humanitarian situation of the region.of the region.

WARNINGWARNING This presentation contains This presentation contains images of graphic violence, images of graphic violence, death, and extreme human death, and extreme human

suffering. Please be advised.suffering. Please be advised.

Justice – Paix – TravailJustice – Paix – Travail    Official Language: FrenchOfficial Language: French

1212thth largest nation in the world largest nation in the worldMost populous Francophone country (71 M)Most populous Francophone country (71 M)

No Alliance Francaise in the DRCNo Alliance Francaise in the DRCAssets of raw material: $24 trillion (Equal to GDP of US and Europe combined)Assets of raw material: $24 trillion (Equal to GDP of US and Europe combined)

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GDP per capita: $186GDP per capita: $186$15 dollars$15 dollars per year on per year on

healthcarehealthcare

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Congo “Free State”Congo “Free State”King Leopold of BelgiumKing Leopold of Belgium““Personal colony”Personal colony”Assoc. Int. AfricaineAssoc. Int. Africaine““humanitarian objectives”humanitarian objectives”Belgian monopoly over Belgian monopoly over

other European nationsother European nations““Force Publique” enforced Force Publique” enforced

rubber quotas by cutting rubber quotas by cutting off limbs. Decapitations off limbs. Decapitations of men and ritualistic of men and ritualistic hanging of women and hanging of women and children in the shape of children in the shape of a cross on the pallisades.a cross on the pallisades.

Between 1885 and 1908, Between 1885 and 1908, the population was the population was reduced by half.reduced by half.

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secretshistoriques.blogspot.com

www.moustique.beparlemento.wordpress.com

lessignets.com

The Belgian CongoThe Belgian Congo1908, international 1908, international

(British) pressure(British) pressure

Belgian parliament took Belgian parliament took over administrationover administration

Exploitation of tens of Exploitation of tens of thousands of people in thousands of people in rubber, copper, palm rubber, copper, palm oil and cotton industryoil and cotton industry

Post-WWII, Congolese Post-WWII, Congolese allowed to buy land allowed to buy land and infrastructure and infrastructure created.created.

““Civilizing mission” Civilizing mission” linked to exploitationlinked to exploitation

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Seeds of IndependenceSeeds of IndependenceNationalist and cultural Nationalist and cultural

movementsmovementsWorld’s fair in BelgiumWorld’s fair in BelgiumCharles de Gaulle’s visit Charles de Gaulle’s visit

to Brazzaville and to Brazzaville and offer of independence offer of independence to to FrenchFrench colonies colonies

Riots in Leopoldville, Riots in Leopoldville, and within the “Force and within the “Force Publique” tipped the Publique” tipped the balancebalance

Kasavubu-first presidentKasavubu-first presidentLumumba (prime Lumumba (prime

minister) murdered minister) murdered partly by Belgian partly by Belgian governmentgovernment

Patrice Lumumba,

Left/centrist

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1960’s U.N peacekeepers1960’s U.N peacekeepersAnti-Communist Mobutu Anti-Communist Mobutu

takes over after rebelliontakes over after rebellionMobutu (head of army) Mobutu (head of army)

created a harsh, corrupt created a harsh, corrupt dictatorship and re-named dictatorship and re-named country “Zaire”country “Zaire”

After the Cold War, Western After the Cold War, Western support waned and support waned and reformers joining political reformers joining political forces in the First Congo forces in the First Congo War forced him out of War forced him out of office.office.

Zaire was a kleptocracy-Zaire was a kleptocracy-Mobutu had embezzled the Mobutu had embezzled the entire value of the national entire value of the national debt.debt.w

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First Congo War First Congo War Nov. 1996 to May 1997 Nov. 1996 to May 1997

In Rwanda, the Tutsis In Rwanda, the Tutsis had gained powerhad gained power

Hutus fled to DRC Hutus fled to DRC refugee campsrefugee camps

Mobutu’s army Mobutu’s army helped these helped these refugee Hutus to refugee Hutus to attack both Rwanda attack both Rwanda and and Congolese Congolese Tutsis in ZaireTutsis in Zaire

Hutu refugees in Zaire

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Tutsi militia (Rwandan) Tutsi militia (Rwandan) and Ugandans, were and Ugandans, were helped by DRC helped by DRC politicians (Kabila) politicians (Kabila) opposing Mobutu’s opposing Mobutu’s dictatorship.dictatorship.

Mobutu was overthrown Mobutu was overthrown and Laurent-Désiré and Laurent-Désiré Kabila is proclaimed Kabila is proclaimed president in Kinshasa.president in Kinshasa.

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Second Congo War/Coltan War/Great Second Congo War/Coltan War/Great War of AfricaWar of Africa

President Kabila, now President Kabila, now fearing a possible plan fearing a possible plan of former Rwandan of former Rwandan Tutsi allies to give Tutsi allies to give DRC control to DRC control to Rwanda, thanked and Rwanda, thanked and dismissed them.dismissed them.

Rwandan Tutsi troops Rwandan Tutsi troops attack DRCattack DRC

Ugandan troops attack Ugandan troops attack DRC to maintain their DRC to maintain their influence in the region.influence in the region.

Angola, Zimbabwe and Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia helped Kabila Namibia helped Kabila and the DRC.and the DRC.

www.rechargebiomedical.com

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Kabila turned to former Kabila turned to former Hutu enemies to balance Hutu enemies to balance the power of Tutsisthe power of Tutsis

Rwandans claimed Rwandans claimed influence, power plants influence, power plants and diamond mines in and diamond mines in the Eastthe East

Kabila’s diplomatic Kabila’s diplomatic approach worked. approach worked. Namibia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Chad, Lybia and Angola, Chad, Lybia and Sudan as well as U.S., Sudan as well as U.S., Canada, Australia and Canada, Australia and Japan supported him.Japan supported him.

Nelson Mandela got the Nelson Mandela got the Rwandan president to Rwandan president to admit his govt’s support admit his govt’s support of the war.of the war.w

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The UN supported a The UN supported a ceasefire ceasefire agreement between agreement between DRC, Ang., Namib., DRC, Ang., Namib., and Zimb. and Zimb. with with Rwanda and Rwanda and Uganda. Ethnic Uganda. Ethnic Tutsis in the DRC Tutsis in the DRC did not signdid not sign

Now there was war Now there was war between the between the Ugandan and Ugandan and Rwandan govt. Rwandan govt. troops in the DRC.troops in the DRC.

Rwandan govt troops Rwandan govt troops attacked Kabila, as attacked Kabila, as well.well.

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2001 Laurent Kabila2001 Laurent Kabilaassassinatedassassinated

216.35.68.200/background/displaystory.cfm?story_id=486713

Joseph KabilaJoseph KabilaLaurent’s son, Joseph, is confirmed Laurent’s son, Joseph, is confirmed

as President-friendly to the West, as President-friendly to the West, and English-speaking Episcopalianand English-speaking Episcopalian

Made peace with Rwanda (US)Made peace with Rwanda (US)

Sun City agreements for a Sun City agreements for a democratic systemdemocratic system

Pretoria accord for Rwandan Pretoria accord for Rwandan withdrawal and Hutu militia withdrawal and Hutu militia dismantlingdismantling

Luanda agreements: Uganda Luanda agreements: Uganda withdrawingwithdrawing

Inter-Congolese dialogue to allow Inter-Congolese dialogue to allow party system for Ugandan and party system for Ugandan and Rwandan people still in DRC.Rwandan people still in DRC.

UN accuses Rwanda and Uganda of UN accuses Rwanda and Uganda of plundering plundering resourcesresources from the from the DRCDRC

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DiamondsDiamonds

townipproject.wikispaces.com

ColtanColtan

merahza.wordpress.com

Coltan is an essential component in the manufacture of capacitors for cell phones and other electronic

devices

Copper and ZincCopper and Zinc

Child laborers in Katanga quit school for mines

www.france24.com

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Statistics on The CongoStatistics on The Congo

5.4 million people have died as a result of the conflict.

2.7 million of the dead have been children. 1 in 5 children will die before their fifth birthdayAverage life expectancy is 47 years Budget has $2 per year on healthcare for its

citizens More than 200,000 women and girls have been the

victim of rape or sexual violenceMore than 1million people have been forced to flee

their homes.At 20,000 UN troops, Congo is home to the largest

peackeeping mission in the world.The UN Human Development Index report (2009)

ranks D.R. Congo as 176th out of 182 countries.

www.warchild.org.uk

On-going conflictsOn-going conflictsKivu conflict: Ethnic Kivu conflict: Ethnic

Hutus (FDLR) vs. Ethnic Hutus (FDLR) vs. Ethnic Tutsis (Banyamulenge) Tutsis (Banyamulenge) in DRCin DRC

Rwanda supporting Tutsi Rwanda supporting Tutsi rebels against DRCrebels against DRC

LRA (based in Uganda) LRA (based in Uganda) now camping in DRC now camping in DRC massacring DRC for massacring DRC for trying to help the US trying to help the US contain them. Hacking contain them. Hacking people to death, crimes people to death, crimes against humanity and against humanity and war crimes, including war crimes, including murder, rape, sexual murder, rape, sexual slavery, and enlisting of slavery, and enlisting of children as combatants children as combatants

In North Kivu murder In North Kivu murder and cannibalism by and cannibalism by “Les Effaceurs” “Les Effaceurs” against the Mbuti against the Mbuti tribe to take their tribe to take their land for mineral land for mineral exploitationexploitation

Mai-Mai (DRC Mai-Mai (DRC paramilitary) now not paramilitary) now not controlled by DRCcontrolled by DRC

Ituri: UN trying to Ituri: UN trying to contain Lendu (Hutu) contain Lendu (Hutu) vs. Hema (Tutsi) tribal vs. Hema (Tutsi) tribal warwar

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onyeri.wordpress.comintlawgrrls.blogspot.com heyokamagazine.com

news.bbc.co.uk www.ctamnesty.org

inewp.comMabanga Ya Talo,

DRC

Lord’s Resistance Army

www.cwla.org/voice/SO10war.html

Reaping the harvest of Reaping the harvest of Rwanda’s genocideRwanda’s genocide

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Death from choleraDeath from cholera

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FlightFlight

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StarvationStarvation

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Rape as a Weapon of WarRape as a Weapon of War

27,000 victims last year 27,000 victims last year in South Kivu in South Kivu alonealone

"I still have pain and feel "I still have pain and feel chills," said one victim, chills," said one victim, who was raped in who was raped in February by five men. February by five men. They held an AK-47 rifle They held an AK-47 rifle to her husband's chest to her husband's chest and made him watch, and made him watch, telling him if he closed telling him if he closed his eyes they would shoot his eyes they would shoot him. After raping her, him. After raping her, they shot him anyway.they shot him anyway.

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Many people chose not to be tested for HIV/AIDS because they know they risk being rejected if they are found to be HIV-positive.

Rape survivors are often ostracised by their communities and abandoned by their husbands.

Rape victims are often afraid of having contracted sexually transmitted diseases while unwanted pregnancy also intensifies their trauma, the report says. Figures suggest between 20-30% of patients, many rape survivors, are HIV-positivebbc.co.uk

1,152 women are raped every day, which amounts to roughly 48 women per hour. www.thegrio.com

news.change.org

What is the Alliance Française What is the Alliance Française de Détroit doing to help de Détroit doing to help fellow fellow FrancophonesFrancophones in The Congo? in The Congo?

Alliance Française de Détroit Alliance Française de Détroit efforteffort

Subcommittee for DRC of the Board of Subcommittee for DRC of the Board of AFDetroitAFDetroit

headed by Dr. Benoit-Mohan and Carol Martiheaded by Dr. Benoit-Mohan and Carol MartiSeries of fundraisers toSeries of fundraisers to benefit benefit Doctors Without Doctors Without

Borders/Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) field teams in The Congofield teams in The Congo

June fundraiser with a guided tour by Dr. Nii June fundraiser with a guided tour by Dr. Nii Quarcoopome, curator of African Art of the Quarcoopome, curator of African Art of the Detroit Institute of Arts to view DRC art . Detroit Institute of Arts to view DRC art .

Fashion show in September of a local French Fashion show in September of a local French fashion retailerfashion retailer

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical Frontières (MSF) is an international medical

humanitarian organization created by humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists doctors and journalists in Francein France in 1971. in 1971.

For more information on how MSF is helping For more information on how MSF is helping people in the DRC, please click on the links people in the DRC, please click on the links provided on the provided on the afdetroit.org afdetroit.org website page website page

“DRC-Relief Effort.”“DRC-Relief Effort.”

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Where the Money GoesWhere the Money Goes

25¢/day25¢/day provides two provides two nourishing meals every nourishing meals every day for a month to a child day for a month to a child threatened by faminethreatened by famine

50¢/day50¢/day provides a month provides a month of clean water for 40 of clean water for 40 refugeesrefugees

$1/day$1/day provides a surgical provides a surgical kit to carry out emergency kit to carry out emergency examinations and basic examinations and basic surgery in the fieldsurgery in the field

$2/day$2/day provides a month of provides a month of nursing care for refugees nursing care for refugees from war or natural from war or natural disasterdisaster

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Aidez-nous, S.V.P.Aidez-nous, S.V.P.