A protest in Winnipeg in support of the DRC (Radio-Canada/ Amine听Ellatife)听
Written by: Sienna Scullion.
The first time I was introduced to social justice movements was in 2020 during the听(BLM) protests. It was the middle of a global pandemic and as I sat at home in my house my family and I watched thousands marching against police brutality. I had always cared about social justice, but this event truly spurred me into the fight for all. Since听then,听I have dabbled in the causes of Palestine and Sudan, for the rights of the disabled and women, but one cause has drawn me in like no other. This cause is the fight for the freedom of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC is one听of the most exploited nations in the world. When I first started fighting for听this听cause听I was surprised to see how few people seem to know let alone care about the DRC.听听
Here, I aim to explore why the DRC should be a cause all young people care about. I will first provide a brief history of the DRC and how it relates to the world at large. I will then cover what is currently occurring in the DRC. This will lead into a discussion of how the DRC and the issues there听impact听us all and why听it鈥檚听particularly important for young people to care. Closing thoughts will follow.听听
The DRC鈥檚 history听
The DRC was not always named the DRC, in fact, history has granted it听various different听names. The DRC was initially called The Congo Free State, a name given to it by听. During the late 19th century听听in which European empires vied for different territories. Belgium came late to this scramble leaving it with few options. Or so this is how it first appeared.听. Leopold then claimed to the world that he was taking on a听to bring “civilization” to the Indigenous people there.听In reality this听was a cover for exploitation and brutalization. Leopold’s government stole land from communities using unfair contracts which the chiefs and leaders of villages could not read. The exploitation was first done for minerals and other general resources until it was discovered that the DRC was rich in rubber trees.听听at the time used in the manufacturing of various resources such as military equipment. Leopold’s extraction of this rubber was听People were forced to work in dangerous conditions and if they refused to听work听they faced brutality such as the amputation of hands and other extremities. It is estimated that anywhere between just over one million people to ten million died during Leopold’s reign.听听
A photo showing workers, boys, in the DRC with amputated hands (Presbyterian Historical Society/Unknown Author)听
When the other imperial nations discovered Leopold’s听reign,听they were so horrified at the abuses that they quickly put a stop to it. This did not, however, bring peace to the DRC. The DRC continued to face exploitation and conflict until the听. Lumumba was an anti-imperialist African who was democratically听elected听by the people of the DRC. He promised to end the exploitation of the DRC and was a beacon for a nation that had so long been exploited by others. A few months after his election Lumumba was assassinated. Lumumba鈥檚听assassination was听who opposed his anti-imperialist beliefs. This resulted in the听, a brutal dictator who continued the exploitation of the people of the DRC. Seko also was the leader that the DRC became听Zaire听under for听a period of time.听听
An official portrait of Patrice Lumumba (Wikiquote/author unknown)听
The 1990s continued to bring struggles for the DRC as thousands fled to the DRC听. Initially, it was thousands of听Tutsis听that were forced out of Rwanda and into the DRC as they tried to avoid being slaughtered. By the end, the Genocide forced thousands of Hutus out of Rwanda who feared repercussions after听participating听in the genocide of the Tutsi. During this听period,听we also saw a听. These factors led to the听听and听听Congo wars which were some of the bloodiest wars in Africa鈥檚 history.听听
A photo showing hundreds displaced during the Second Congo War (OXFAM/ Maire听Cacace)听
Where are we now/ Forever exploitation, war and human rights exploitation听听
DRC is still facing heavy exploitation to this day. While materials like rubber and uranium have听been听side-lined targets of exploitation, other materials such as听have taken the spotlight.听All of听these minerals are needed in the creation of modern technology听such as听electronic听vehicles, solar听panels, computers, phones, vapes, and other modern electronics.听In particular the听minerals of听听which are used in most modern electronic devices.听
,听 violent, violates human rights, destroys the听environment听and rubs the young of their future. The mines, run by North American,听European听and Chinese firms, aim to maximize their profit听at the expense of people, their听cultures听and the environment on which their livelihoods depend. When a company secures a mining concession, community鈥檚 land is grabbed, people are dispossessed, infrastructures are destroyed and artisanal miners are unemployed. In听those听mines, even children are sometimes employed. When听companies employ听adult听men听and听women, they听e, if they are physically injured, they are not given compensation. The mines themselves, beyond being dangerous, also host other dangers for the communities in the area. Firstly, these mines are often heavily, and national armies.听These groups intimidate the communities and perpetuate sexual and physical violence against men, women, and children.听听
The mines are also听.听To purify the minerals, mining companies use chemicals such as mercury and cyanide acid which are dangerous to human life and the ecology.听The mines themselves decimate local communities and the听run off听of the听minerals and metal toxins,听mines听release chemicals into water,听soil听and air.听This results in people being more susceptible to illness and physical conditions. It also raises the risk for birth defects and reproductive illness. Animals are equally venerable particularly fish who live in waters polluted by听.听听
The Congo is also currently under threat from the Rwandan backed military group March 23 (M23).听In听spite of听the peace agreements that have been signed in the听united听states听(link) and Quatar (Link), M23 and other militia听groups have听not stopped attacking听Congo (cite the attack of M23 today)听听听that is currently terrorizing the regions near the DRC/Rwanda border. These areas include Goma and the听. The M23 invades spaces, the exploitation of the DRC’s resources, and commits acts of violence including sexual assault against the people of the DRC. The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has actively denied the interference of Rwanda in the DRC and has denied they are funding the M23. The global community has had little response to help the DRC and many nations continue to allow their companies to听exploit听听Uganda has also contributed towards the suffering in the DRC through their use of听. These groups terrorize civilians and further contribute towards the exploitation of minerals in the DRC.听听
A photo showing M23 soldiers on the back of a car (AP Photos/Moses听Sawasawa)听
Why we must care听听
Young adults, millennial and generation Z, are the first generations to grow up with affordable technology. Our generations have swiftly learned how to use computers, phones and more, turning them into a part of our daily lives. Our generations are also the ones to create听new technologies. We are the pioneers of the future. Due to this, it is important that we care about the DRC, their people, and their resources. As we work our way up the corporate ladder or secure jobs in the听ever-evolving听tech industry,听it’s听important that we know where our resources come from and how to听assure,听they听aren’t听conflict minerals. If the minerals must come from the听DRC,听then it is imperative they come from ethical mines which protect their workers and care about the communities they exist alongside. This will not only assure that we can feel comfortable knowing the work we do is not powered by听blood but听will also allow us to feel comfortable knowing we are actively supporting global communities rather than exploiting them.听听
As a young adult I have been privileged to be exposed to the听. Although Palestine is not yet free, young adults across the world have fought for the rights of Palestinians against the Israel-settler state, striving towards freedom and the recognition of the Palestinian state. If this can be done in听Palestine,听then this can be done for the DRC. As young people we have the ability to. In nations like Canada and the United States this is particularly important as operations stemming from said nations are the main perpetrators of abuse and exploitation. I do not expect that young people travel to the DRC themselves or get arrested in their home country as they fight for the rights of those in the DRC. However, young people听are able to听educate others and lobby for their local politicians in order their nations may change how they relate to the DRC.听听
Here are examples of things that you can do to support those in the DRC:听
- 1.听Demand justice听for Congo:听As we have done with Palestine, we must not forget Congo. We are all听benefitting听from Congolese听exploitation.听Demand tech companies to engage in just access to minerals and metals. For example, companies need to develop the听infrastructure- schools, roads, hospitals etc. (I have removed those organizations because they are not helping)听
- 2. Educate others about the DRC and how many of our minerals are sourced from there.听Whenever I try to speak with people on the听DRC,听I find they听are often uneducated. While education is not a direct fix it is the first step into action. People听cannot听fight for a cause they do not know exists.听听
- 3. Avoid听purchasing听new technology.听While听new technology听is often exciting it is also a major factor contributing to the听. If you can repair or continue to use your older technology, then do so. If you must buy new technology, then buy second hand.
- 4. Keep up with the news.听By keeping up with听听you will be able to better understand the conflict and what can be done to fight against it. You will also gain important knowledge about central Africa which may be useful in other aspects of your life.听听
Final thoughts听听
I have spent the last two years of my life working towards freedom for the DRC. I have听written听many articles, researched for hours, and educated tens of others on the conflict and mineral exploitation taking place in the DRC. This cause has not been the only one听I’ve听fought for, far from it. I have long been involved in the fight for Palestine and for Indigenous rights in Canada; however, the DRC has always held a special place in my heart. The DRC is a beautiful nation that for the past two centuries has faced some of the worst exploitation possible. This exploitation is something the DRC continues to face so that the rest of the world may have access to technology. Despite this fact, the DRC is continually ignored by activists and protestors.听听听
I wrote this article in hopes to change that. By covering the history and modern-day context of the DRC as well as why we should care I hope to encourage young people to take up the cause. I do not believe that this article will result in all those that read it to take on the burdens and struggles of those in DRC. Nor do I believe that this is needed. But if this article is able to educate those that read it and spark on even the smallest action then we may be able to spark change for all those in the DRC and Africa at large. An injustice anywhere should never leave us indifferent.听听We are so interconnected more than we think and should work together to build a better world especially for our generation and that of our children. Let us dare to dream a world that the capitalist world systems have failed to create.
A photo from 2016 showing those in the DRC protesting their corrupt government (REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)听