May 12, 2006: Congo's Tragedy "This war has been dismissed as an internal African implosion. In reality it is a battle for coltan, diamonds, cassiterite and gold, destined for sale in London, New York and Paris."
Source: The Independent Online Edition, May 6, 2006

"Congo contains some of the world's richest deposits of gold, diamonds, copper, and other minerals. But its wealth has long been a curse for its war-torn villages, washed over by waves of greedy gunmen who looted the mines and exploited miners during nearly a decade of conflict."
Source: Fortune Magazine, April 27, 2006

"One of Britain's closest allies in Africa is stoking the flames of anarchy in the Democratic Republic of Congo by arming brutal militias in return for gold and mineral wealth."
Source: The Daily Telegraph, April 27, 2006

"This war was launched by nations that sensed - rightly - that our desire for coltan and diamonds and gold far outweighed our concern for the lives of [black] people. They knew that we would keep on buying, long after the UN had told us time and again that people were dying to provide our mobiles and games consoles and girl friend's best friend."
Source: The Independent Online Edition, May 6, 2006
Click here to read this very incisive and revealing article (PDF)!

The above quotes were pulled from major recent publications in the West buttressed by a plethora of reports by the United Nations and Human Rights Institutions ( Click here to read reports!). The reports pinpoint the ultimate source of the suffering of the Congolese people. A web of vicious militias, greedy and opportunistic neighbors, indifferent foreign nations and callous multi-national corporations. These entities continue to sacrifice the lives of the Congolese on the alter of free market, technological advancement and outrageous profits as gold, tin, copper and other commodities reach record prices (Click here to see records being set in the commodities markets!).

Keenly aware of their predicament, the Congolese hope that against all odds, the upcoming elections will provide them with an historic opportunity to choose leaders who will protect their interests and bring an end to the raping of their girls and women and the pilfering of the country's wealth.


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United Nations Mission in the Congo (MONUC in French) Report on the Human Rights Situation in the DRC:
MONUC recently issued a disturbing report which details a number of human rights violations by the police and the Armed Forces of the DRC. The report documents the following abuses:

- An increase in individual cases of summary executions, torture and other serious human rights violations;

- Routine use of physical violence against civilians was reported wherever army and police were deployed;

- Threats, beatings and arrests were usually motivated by attempts to obtain money, goods, livestock or mined products from civilians;

- High incidence of rapes and sexual violence are being carried out against Congolese women and girls by the security forces;

- Civil liberties have been repressed, freedom of expression and press were stifled, journalists have been arrested, threatened and beaten and extrajudicial executions are being investigated;

- The police have made arbitrary arrests and used excessive force;

- Both the military and civilian justice system continue to remain in a state of near collapse and for the vast majority of Congolese justice remains beyond reach.

In light of the abuses and violations of human rights, the UN made ten recommendations for the transitional government.
Click here to see report and recommendations!