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Decolonization of Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo declares independence from Belgium, and popular independence leader Patrice Lumumba becomes prime minister. Secessionist Rebellions break out across the country. Gender based violence could be a result of unstable government, the rise of rebel groups and a weak centralized power due to Belgium’s decolonization. Hutus and Tutsi’s are the primary separate factions struggling for power. -
Period: to
Conflict after decolonization of Congo.
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Joseph Mobutu takes control as a dictator.
General Joseph Mobutu takes control of Congo in a military coup on behalf of the Hutu majority. He changed the name of the country to Zaire, banned all religion, ruled as a dictator in his totalitarian regime. He received U.S. and western support due to his opposition to communism, while increasing tensions between the Hutus and Tutsis. He lowered moral values of human life, increasing the tolerance for gender based violence, and making it practically acceptable and unprosecuted. -
Mobutu exacerbates economy.
Zaire fails to pay debts to Belgium as a result of Mobutu’s kleptocracy (personal use of the nation’s treasury as a means of luxury), exacerbating the country’s economy. With a weak economy, human trafficking became an easy remedy as a means of profit. -
Mobutu commits genocide on Tutsis and Tutsis fight back.
Hutu and Tutsi tensions drastically increased as Mobutu committed mass genocide of the Tutsi minority in Rwanda. Tutsi rebel group formed from refuge groups in Ugandan border with Rwanda take power in Rwanda. Led by Paul Kagame (former Tutsi), they overthrew the Hutu group known as Akazu, led by Juvénal Habyarimana, and appointed by Mobutu. -
Laurent-Desire Kabila leads the Allance of Democratic Forces for Liberation of Congo-Zaire
Given the support from Ugandan and Rwandan government, anti-Mobutu forces called the Alliance of Democratic Forces for Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL) led by Laurent-Desire Kabila began war with Zaire. Kabila and his rebel groups overthrows Mobutu’s regime and becomes president. He restores the name Democratic Republic of the Congo, under Tutsi control. Mobutu leaves a behind a bad economy, and poor protection of human rights (particularly women’s rights). -
Hutu refuges form Congolese Democracy and commence Second Congo War.
Cultural desire for revenge and justice causes Tutsi forces in power to begin committing genocide on Hutu Refugees in eastern Congo. As a direct result, Hutu refugees banded together in eastern Congo, creating an insurgency called Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), sparking the second Congo war. Ironically given the support from Rwanda and Uganda, this new rebellion created ethnic allegiances and sought economic power over minerals in eastern Congo. -
United Nations sends peacekeeping force into Congo.
The United Nations finally interferes with its peacekeeping force at the peak of conflict during the Second Congo War. Child Soldiers, Human Trafficking, and human rights were prominent. The use of rape, sexual mutilation, and human trafficking were a tool of war, a means of making money, and destroying opposing communities. (E.G. Tutsi invading Hutu communities or Hutu invading Tutsi Communities). -
End of Second Congo War
After constant warfare, and involvement of surrounding countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Angola, Zimbabwe and Chad.), the Second Congo war came to an end under a “peace agreement”. Conflict over minerals in eastern Congo remains prominent. As long as mineral conflict continues, so will human trafficking. -
Birth of the Democratic Republic of Congo's Constitution
New constitution calls for multiparty national and presidential elections. This government called for an increase power in centralized government, with a corrupt bureaucracy this could potentially exacerbate the situation. Debates in the western world spark up controversy on this issue, creating two opposing sides: those who prefer centralized government, those who prefer decentralized government. -
Joseph Kabila wins presidential election.
Joseph Kabila wins presidential election, winning in a democratic way; free and fair. Dissent arises in eastern Congo, and General Laurent Nkunda creates a new rebel group in opposition, called the National Congress for People’s Defense (CDNP). This sparked fear of a third Congo war. Fear correlated with increasing abuse of women. -
General Laurent Nkunda rises in power.
CDNP gains momentum, rising in power and becomes more threatening to Kabila and surrounding countries. Nkunda conquers eastern North Kuvu, and almost conquers the capital Goma. His troops violated human rights and used rape as a weapon of war. -
Nkunda is arrested and war is averted.
Rwanda successfully arrests Nkunda and signs détente with Congo, and prevents a third Congo War. CDNP disperses, and no longer remains powerful. However, many rebel groups formed from the diversion of CDNP and still continue to fight for mineral control primarily in eastern Congo. Diverted rebel groups from Nukunda seek to enslave women and children. -
Obama signs bill regulating mineral conflict in Congo.
Obama signs bill regulating trade in conflict minerals from Congo. There is hope that this law will decrease violence in eastern Congo. However, controversy arises, and many oppose the law, believing that it will exacerbate the situation. Some argue that it will cause the increase in human trafficking as a different medium of obtaining money. Others argue that it will bind rebel groups together to create another insurgency group, causing a third Congo War. -
Many foreign and domestic armed rebel groups constantly forcing women into human trafficking.
Today the UN reports that these groups are forcing woman and children to work, sex slavery, and fighting. The groups listed were: Patriotes Resistants Congolais (PARECO), various local militia (Mai-Mai), the Forces republicaines federalistes (FRF), the Forces de Resistance Patriotique en Ituri (FPRI), the Front des Patriotes de la Justice au Congo (FPJC), the Allied Democratic Forces/National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF/NALU), and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
