Sadly, for the second time this year the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the site of intense battle. The conflict is a remnant of the horrible civil wars that wracked the country in the 90's. The fighting is between a rebel general and the new UN backed government. Most of the fighting is occurring in the east of the nation near the capital of North Kivu province, Goma. The infant government is seemingly helpless in the situation and the conflict will remain a problem for the foreseeable future. At the heart of this conflict are ethnic tensions that have roots in the Rwandan genocide and the mineral riches of the country (blood copper and tin?). The real tragedy is the roughly 1 million people that are caught in the middle of this horrible mess. The DRC is also home to the biggest UN peacekeeper operation in the world and they are struggling at best to protect the people. A silver lining could be a potential contingent of troops from the EU to help the peacekeepers ensure some safety for innocent civilians. To shed some light on this country and its conflict, here are some stories and resources.
Profile: General Laurent Nkunda
Ceasefire called, talks ensue.....
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