Postindependence, the country saw a mix of unrest, rebellion, secession movements, a long dictatorship, armed conflict, and foreign intervention, including on the d. The security situation in congo severely deteriorated in 2017, leaving 1. Poverty in the democratic republic of the congo the. This astronaut image shows two capital cities brownishgray areas on opposite banks of the congo river.
The main issue currently going on in the democratic republic of congo is the war zaire. Reconsider travel to the democratic republic of the congo drc due to crime, civil unrest, and ebola. Presidential election crisis and poor governance currently, the major challenge facing the drc is the presidential election crisis. Democratic republic of congo also known as congo kinshasa is the 2nd largest country in africa by total land area. Rights groups say at least half a million people have been displaced in recent. The democratic republic of the congo is a country located in central africa poverty. A rise in violent tension in the east of the democratic republic of congo, across the border from rwanda, is the latest phase of a conflict unresolved since the rwandan genocide of 1994. With 80 million hectares of arable land and over 1,100 listed minerals and precious metals, the drc has the potential to become one of the richest. Usaid helps governments and communities plan how the forests and land will be used so that they are conserved for future generations, while at the same time providing products such as medicines, wildlife, wood and other products that can improve living standards today. Current issues the main issue currently going on in the democratic republic of congo is the war zaire. Testimony statement before the house foreign affairs committee subcommittee on africa, global health, global human rights, and international organizations washington, dc thank you very much chairman smith, ranking member bass, and other members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today on u. Hiv is a leading cause of death and a health threat to millions worldwide. Social issues in the democratic republic of congo wikipedia.
Official position of the congolese government on the. Violence in the democratic republic of congo global. Jan 10, 2019 the recent history of the democratic republic of congo dr congo has been one of civil war and corruption. Decades of war, violence, and poverty have claimed the lives of over five million people.
Crime statistics democratic republic of the congo knoema. The largest francophone country in africa, the democratic republic of congo drc, endowed with vast natural resources, has nearly 80 million inhabitants, fewer. Democratic republic of congo world africa human rights. Authorities in the democratic republic of congo have not brought to justice those responsible for the massacres of ethnic banunu in yumbi territory one year ago. The below is just a snapshot of some of the major issues facing the country. Congos civil war 19982003 was essentially ended by a powersharing agreement that created the transitional constitution of 2003, which provided for a transitional government that consisted of representatives from various rebel groups, the previous government, the political opposition, and. The democratic republic of the congo drc, the secondlargest country in africa, has been mired in conflict for decades. From zaire to the democratic republic of the congo. Congo, republic of the roc the most significant environmental problems in the congo are deforestation, increases in urban population, and the protection of its wildlife.
The congos forests are endangered by fires set to clean the land for agricultural purposes. The democratic republic of the congos economic freedom score is 49. The democratic republic of congo is widely considered one of the worlds richest countries in natural resources. Troops from angola, chad, namibia, sudan, and zimbabwe intervened to. Feb, 20 today, the democratic republic of the congo has a great potential for wealth, but has been slowly recovering from decades of decline. Background and current developments congressional research service 1 recent developments in february 2011, the congolese government formally charged one senior military officer and 10 soldiers of mass rape in the town of fizi, in the eastern province of south kivu. Africa congo, democratic republic of the the world. Dr congo has a total land area of about 2,344,858sq.
Democratic republic of the congo news top stories from al. The democratic republic of congo faces a worsening humanitarian, human rights, and security crisis. The congo has 70% of the worlds coltan, a third of its cobalt, more than 30% of its diamond reserves, and a tenth of its copper. Aug 21, 2010 this part of the web site looks at the conflict in the democratic republic of congo. Relations with republic of the congo united states. Conflict in the democratic republic of congo drc threatens the lives of millions of. The democratic republic of congodrc has one of the highest. The smaller city on the north side of the river is brazzaville, while the larger, kinshasa, is on the south side. Yet the rich country leaders and their media drew everyones attention to 2000 ethnic albianians being killed in kosovo to gain support for a war there.
This part of the web site looks at the conflict in the democratic republic of congo. At independence in 1960, the formal economy of congo was based almost entirely on the extraction of minerals, primarily copper and diamonds. Officially known as the democratic republic of the congo, the country has a 25mile 40km coastline on the atlantic ocean but is otherwise landlocked. Major issues since the war that took place in august of 1998, the drc has encountered many internal problems over the recent decade. Malaria lower respiratory infections neonatal disorders tuberculosis lschemic heart disease diarrheal diseases stroke congenital defects road injuries hiv aids. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of congo, democratic republic of the transnational issues 2020 information contained here. The united states has encouraged congolese efforts to diversify the economy and. The united states established diplomatic relations with the democratic republic of the congo d. Democratic republic of congo has been engulfed in a complex humanitarian crisis for decades. Congo, republic of the transnational issues 2020, cia world. The recent history of the democratic republic of congo dr congo has been one of civil war and corruption. Violence in the democratic republic of congo global conflict. Feedback congo, democratic republic of the economy. The ebola virus disease outbreak in the democratic republic of the congo drc remains an international public health concern, experts meeting in geneva concluded on wednesday.
The world bank is helping to fight poverty and improve living standards for the people of the democratic republic of congo, through education, energy, health and other social services. Zaire was started because of resource, control, water, and other reasons that have lead to. The fight to stop a deadly outbreak of ebola in the democratic republic of congo has lasted nearly two years. The democratic republic of congo, located in central africa, has spent decades in the grip of violent conflict and economic unrest.
The democratic republic of congo drc has one of the highest incidences of poverty in the world. Major problems facing dr congo today africa and the. The two countries have worked together on issues of common interest such as strengthening regional security, improving the living standards of congolese citizens, and safeguarding the environment. Learn about sources of continued violence in the democratic republic of congo and how the united nations, african union, and neighboring countries are struggling to curtail it. At least four inmates have tested positive and many more are quarantined in ndolo prison in the capital city. These plans have put forest management in the hands of local communitieswhich has been shown to be among the most effective. The democratic republic of congo has confirmed its first cases of covid19 in a prison. Kabila renamed the country the democratic republic of the congo drc, but in august 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by rwanda and uganda. Infectious diseases, like malaria, divert intentions for economic investments, threaten public health and contribute to child mortality rates.
Democratic republic of congo drc national democratic. The economy of the democratic republic of the congo a nation endowed with vast potential wealthhas declined significantly since the mid1980s. The largest francophone country in africa, the democratic republic of congo drc, endowed with vast natural resources, has nearly 80 million inhabitants, fewer than 40% of whom live in urban areas. Political crisis in the democratic republic of the congo. In terms of population size, dr congo is the fourth most populous country in africa today with a population of about 81. Dr congo is a vast country with immense economic resources and, until recently, has been. Democratic republic of congo cdc center for global health. Congo, democratic republic of the economy flags, maps.
The cities lie at the downstream end of an almost circular widening in the river. Forty years later, on july 10, 1999, drc, along with angola, namibia, zimbabwe, rwanda, and uganda, signed the lusaka ceasefire agreement for a cessation of hostilities between all belligerent forces in the congo. Opposition leader felix tshisekedi was declared the winner of the democratic republic of congos drc presidential elections held in late december 2018 and was inaugurated. The country was renamed the democratic republic of the congo in 1997, which had been its name before mobutu changed it to zaire in 1971. Systemic corruption, countrywide instability, and conflict that began in the mid90s have all drastically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the death of over five million people due to famine, violence. The democratic republic of congodrc has one of the highest incidences of poverty in the world. Relations with democratic republic of the congo united.
Curated by knoemas data analysts to deliver leading shortterm and longterm indicators and forecasts from trusted sources for each of the covered industries. Jun 16, 2016 one of the main causes of poverty in the democratic republic of the congo is health threats, specifically a malaria outbreak, which resulted in approximately 6. In the democratic republic of the congo, rape is widely used as a weapon of war against women, men and children. Democratic republic of the congo news top stories from.
The democratic republic of the congo is a country located in central africa. Democratic republic of the congo economy britannica. The consequences have been devastating for the congolese people, with some 4. Poverty in the democratic republic of the congo the borgen. Presidents emergency plan for aids relief pepfar, cdc works with the democratic republic of the congo drc to build a sustainable, highimpact national hiv response program to accelerate progress towards the unaids global targets to control the hiv epidemic. While the democratic republic of congo has the natural and human resources to thrive, it has the unenviable distinction of.
Although the country is vastly populated with an innumerable amount of resources, poverty in the democratic republic of the congo still defines the lives of children. Ndis activities in the drc began with assisting the countrys unarmed political organizations to participate in the intercongolese dialogue. Technical issues and irregularities, including a delay in voting for more than a million. Since the development of the democratic republic of the congo commonly known as the drc or the dr congo the nation has been the center of what many historians refer to as africas world war. Democratic republic of congo overview world bank group. Opposition leader felix tshisekedi was declared the winner of the democratic republic of congo s drc presidential elections held in late december 2018 and was inaugurated. Democratic republic of the congo government and society. The democratic republic of the congo is a source, destination, and possibly a transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Ambassador in the democratic republic of the congo is michael hammer. Democratic republic of the congo democratic republic of the congo government and society. The democratic republic of the congo is grappling with the worlds second largest ebola epidemic on record, with more than 2200 lives lost and 3400 confirmed infections since the outbreak was declared on 1 august 2018. Democratic republic of the congo news top stories from al jazeera.
But elation over mobutus downfall faded as kabilas own autocratic style emerged, and he seemed devoid of a clear plan for reconstructing the country. Democratic republic of the congo, january 23, 2019. Voices concern for american held in republic of congo the naturalized citizen, marcel pika, moved back to his home country in 2007. Republic of the congo relations are positive and cooperative.
The new government instituted a tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and currency depreciation. Democratic development in the democratic republic of congo drc faces a myriad of challenges, including a legacy of exploitation and conflict, lack of physical and communications infrastructure, extreme poverty and continuing pockets of insecurity. Stay on top of the democratic republic of the congos biggest stories by al. Zaire was started because of resource, control, water, and other reasons that have lead to the deadliest war since world war ii. In 2008, at the request of the government of the democratic republic of congo dr congo, the united nations environment programme unep established a country programme and a project office in the capital, kinshasa. Congo, democratic republic of the transnational issues 2020. The democratic republic of the congo pronunciation help info french. Democratic republic of congo also known as congokinshasa is the 2nd largest country in africa by total land area. Congo, republic of the transnational issues 2020, cia. Democratic republic of the congo economic indicators. The congo today imperialism of democratic republic of the congo. Crisis in democratic republic of congo oxfam international.
The eastern drc region and the three kasai provinces kasai, kasaioriental, kasaicentral due to crime, civil unrest, armed. Democratic republic of the congo democratic republic of the congo economy. Backgrounder on democratic republic of the congo printable version may the risen lord break down the walls of hostility that today divide brothers and sisters, especially in south sudan and the democratic republic of congo. Dr congo ebola outbreak still an international public. Media coverage is poor and yet there have been millions of refugees and over five million killed since the war began around august 1998. This brief video summarizes the initial challenges the drc faced. As with most conflicts in africa, the current situation has much to do with the. The capital, kinshasa, is located on the congo river about 320 miles 515 km from. Usaid administrator mark greens meeting with david gressly, united nations emergency ebola response coordinator. The who country health profile of democratic republic of the congo provides key statistics and links to health topical databases, plus news, features and bulletin journal articles on the health issues of the country. There are many issues that must be addressed in the democratic republic of the congo for there to be peace and development. Democratic republic of the congo environment current issues. Usccb issues and action human life and dignity global issues africa democratic republic of the congo printable version may the risen lord break down the walls of hostility that today divide brothers and sisters, especially in south sudan and the democratic republic of congo. Violence has plagued the democratic republic of congo drc since its emergence from belgian colonial rule in 1960.
Throughout 2018, government officials and security forces. The democratic republic of the congo s economic freedom score is 49. An examination of the political and social situation in the democratic republic of the congo since may 1997 when laurent kabila proclaimed himself president of the country. Congo, democratic republic of the transnational issues. It is, by area, the largest country in subsaharan africa, the secondlargest in all of africa after algeria, and the 11th.
Over the last two years, the situation has massively deteriorated due to an increase in the scale and number of conflicts in the country. The origins of the current violence in the drc are in the massive refugee. Major issues conflicts in the democratic republic of the congo. The country has been poliofree for four years, a major achievement given its size and the lack of infrastructure for delivering health services. The world health organization who convened its emergency committee which reaffirmed that the risk remains high at the national and regional levels, but low globally. With regard to the issues addressed in the report of the secretarygeneral on monusco and the general development of the situation in the democratic republic of the congo. Major issues conflicts in the democratic republic of the. Facts and statistics about the environment current issues of democratic republic of the congo. A country of paradoxes, it is a land rich in natural resources, but its people are among the poorest in the world. Economic development the democratic republic of congo has some of the most fertile land in the world, but for decades the small farming communities surrounding lake kivu in eastern congo have endured cycles of violence and postconflict poverty. Republique democratique du congo, also known as dr congo, the drc, droc, congo kinshasa, or simply the congo, is a country located in central africa.
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