In 2024, there were more children living in war zones than at any time since Save the Children began collecting data. Its CEO is calling on the German government to invest more in humanitarian aid.
By Gabriel Bub
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is the second largest country in Africa in terms of area and is home to a wealth of natural treasures. The country is home to vast tropical rainforests, has significant freshwater reserves and possesses important natural resources that make it a potential center for economic growth. Despite these riches, however, the DR Congo is not without its challenges. In particular, the border regions with Rwanda and Uganda are repeatedly the scene of armed conflicts by rebel groups. These conflicts, combined with problems such as corruption and political instability, have prevented the country from realizing its full potential and becoming a stable and prosperous nation. DR Congo: political situation remains unstable & fragile The political situation in the DR Congo has been unstable and fragile for decades. Since its independence from Belgium in 1960, the nation has been repeatedly plagued by conflict and violence, known as the "Congo conflicts". In 2006, the first democratic elections took place, with Joseph Kabila becoming the first democratically elected president.In 2019, Félix Tshisekedi took over as president, despite significant allegations of rigging. Martin Fayulu, another presidential candidate, called for a recount of the votes and claimed that the elections were rigged. This view was shared by many international election observers, who saw Fayulu as the true winner. Despite these controversies, the National Electoral Commission declared Tshisekedi the winner and under Tshisekedi's leadership the DRC has made some remarkable progress. The economy has improved, inflation has fallen and important judicial and administrative reforms have been implemented. Nevertheless, Tshisekedi faces considerable challenges. Corruption remains a dominant problem and human rights violations are still widespread. Particularly in the east of the country, where armed conflicts continue to rage, the government is struggling to restore peace and stability. Another problem is the DR Congo's role as a center of international drug trafficking and arms smuggling. Due to its size, low population density, poor infrastructure and the presence of numerous armed groups that benefit from corruption within the government, the country has difficulties in curbing these illegal activities. Arms smuggling is particularly fueled by the ongoing conflicts in the east of the country, and with the upcoming elections at the end of 2023, in which Tshisekedi intends to run again, it remains to be seen how Congo's political situation will develop in the coming years. Which international organizations is the DR Congo a member of? What international agreements and bilateral treaties has the DR Congo signed? The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed a number of international agreements and bilateral treaties. These include: The DRC has also signed a number of bilateral treaties with other countries, including treaties on trade, investment, development cooperation and security.The DRC is an active member of the international community and plays an important role in solving global challenges. What bilateral agreements and treaties exist between the DR Congo and Germany? Germany and the DR Congo have maintained diplomatic relations since 1960, which are characterized by development cooperation, education, culture and security. In 2020, the two countries signed an agreement to intensify their political, economic and security partnership. Germany is one of the DR Congo's largest development aid partners in Africa and has provided over EUR 2 billion in recent years. German companies are active in the DR Congo in sectors such as mining and energy. Relations between the two countries are friendly and future-oriented, and here are some of the most important bilateral agreements and treaties between Germany and the DR Congo: DR Congo: current civil war and its consequences The DR Congo has been marked by profound violence and civil wars for decades. The first Congo War (1996-1997) began when Laurent-Désiré Kabila rebelled against the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko. This conflict was exacerbated by tribalism in Rwanda between the Tutsis and Hutus, whose clashes spread beyond the borders of Rwanda. After the genocide of the Tutsis, many Hutus fled to the Congo, which led to further tensions. The toleration of the Hutus in the Congo led to tensions with Rwanda. While the rebels under Kabila were supported by Rwanda and Uganda, some believe that this support was mainly due to the previous genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus.The Second Congo War (1998-2003) was one of the deadliest conflicts in Africa and cost the lives of up to 8 million people. It is often referred to as "Africa's World War" as it involved many African states. Kabila lost the trust of his allies Rwanda, Uganda and Angola, leading to a proxy war in which many African countries such as Zimbabwe, Naibia and Chad became involved. Despite a peace agreement in 2003, the situation in the DR Congo remains unstable, particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu. The consequences of the Congo war are devastating. Armed groups, including the FDLR and the M23 rebels, are still active and responsible for human rights violations. The humanitarian crisis has displaced millions of people, with most refugees hosted in North Kivu and Ituri. Since 2019, 6 million people have fled due to violence and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.DR Congo is one of the most conflict-affected countries in the world. The government is powerless in the face of the ongoing violence to improve the situation and end the "Congo conflict". Economy in the DR Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the poorest countries in the world, with the majority of its population living in poverty. Despite its wealth of natural resources, including copper, cobalt, diamonds and gold, the country's economy is mainly based on agriculture and mining. Although the DRC has enormous economic potential, this is currently not fully exploited, resulting in a poorly diversified economy. Recently, however, the economy has started to grow due to the increasing demand for copper and cobalt, but the DRC still faces many challenges: Despite all these obstacles, the DRC has the potential to develop into an emerging economy. With its abundant natural resources and a young growing population, the DRC could become a major economic driver on the African continent if the government successfully implements reforms.
