Karla Arevalo-Alas IT 2010, Georgia State

UniversityNov. 1, 2012

Congo: The Trigger of Africa

“Africa has the shape of a pistol, and Congo is its trigger.” – Frantz Fanon

Democratic Republic of Congo and it’s importance to Africa

Leading factors shaping the Great War: Rwanda Genocide Role of State Failure Social and Ethnic

Division

The Democratic Republic of CongoImportance of the Congo

Natural Resources Strategic geographical position Vast territory

Influence of Congo in the neighboring countries Benefits of controlling Congo’s natural

resources

Rwanda Genocide Hutus vs. Tutsis Rwanda’s independence from Belgium Tutsi’s removal from Rwanda Origins of the Rwanda Patriotic Force (RPF) The assassination of Rwanda’s president

and the retaliations Amplification of ethnic disagreements

Role of State Failure Failed State Resource Course Mobutu’s role on

Congo’s economic failure

Laurent Kabila and the AFDL invasion of Congo

Kabila’s desire to control Congo’s natural resources

Natural Resources in D.R. Congo

Social & Ethnic Division History of ethnic divisionAmplification of ethnic disagreementsSocial and ethnic differences as the cause

of war Invasion of Congo as “result” of social and

ethnic divisions

The Cause of War The Great War in Central Africa was a result

of the desire to control the Democratic Republic of Congo and it’s natural resources.

Cultural divisions is a camouflage of desire for political and economic control