Congo, Democratic Republic of the
From 1994 to 2002 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; formerly called Zaire) was rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. Troops from Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Namibia intervened in this devastating conflict. The war claimed an estimated three million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. It has been termed the worst emergency to unfold in Africa in recent decades. The war had an economic as well as a political side. Fighting was fuelled by the country's vast mineral wealth, with all sides plundering the DRC's natural resources.
Joseph Kabila was barely 30 and a political novice when he became president in January 2001 following the murder of his father, Laurent. He surprised diplomats and observers by declaring that he wanted to seek a peaceful end to his country's civil war and to introduce a multi-party democracy. The path to peace was cleared in July 2002 when Kabila and Rwanda's President Kagame signed a peace agreement, which held: invading Rwandan and Ugandan troops and supporting armies from Angola and Zimbabwe pulled out of DRC territory. In December 2002, the Rwanda-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) and the Uganda-backed Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) rebel groups and opposition political parties signed a peace agreement with the government to end the war. The MLC and the RCD are the largest former rebel groups, but there are many other rebel groups, often ethnically-linked and with fluid political allegiances.
The new power-sharing agreement provided for the appointment of four vice presidents. Members of the rebel groups and political opposition parties fill three vice presidential positions. The remaining one is for Kabila's supporters. The MLC and RCD each received seven ministries in the interim government.
Repeated delays in elections caused widespread protests in DRC cities, sparking brutal police response. No clear winner emerged from the July 2006 presidential vote; Kabila and his opposition rival Jean-Pierre Bemba ran in a close second round in late October, and the Supreme Court declared Kabila the winner in late November 2006. Kabila took the oath of office early the following month.
With the exception of the capital, Kinshasa, travelers should not visit the Democratic Republic of Congo. Personnel in the country, including Kinshasa, should exercise extreme caution. Despite coup attempts and sporadic violence, the peace has held since the formal end of the war. But the Kinshasa government has no control over large parts of the country and tension remains high in the east.
Clashes between various armed groups and government forces occurred frequently in 2004 and have continued in 2005. In rural areas there have been numerous reports of civilian massacres. Eastern areas of the country are particularly dangerous. Although rebel elements have been incorporated into the national army, rebel identity and loyalties remain very strong.
Civil disturbances and demonstrations occur with little notice and may turn violent. Numerous security forces are stationed in urban areas, including Kinshasa, however their chain of command is often unclear; troops are often ill-trained, ill-paid, and poorly disciplined. Military roadblocks are common, particularly after dark, and may not be clearly marked.
Despite significant progress toward peace, violence continues in many parts of the country. A failed coup led to heavy fighting in Kinshasa in June 2004. Political tensions over the 2006 elections also led to factional fighting.
The UN deployed a 90-strong military liaison mission in September 1999. An expanded (5,537-strong) observer mission was authorized in February 2000, but conditions made the deployment impossible. A new plan to verify and monitor the disengagement of conventional forces under the Lusaka agreement was authorized in February 2001. The UN force (MONUC) now compromises up to 10,800 military personnel. In 2004 there were violent demonstrations against MONUC in Kinshasa, Kisangani, Kindu and Lubumbashi and the unrest often led broader attacks against the international community. English-speaking individuals of all nationalities and travelers who appear to be members of military or missionary groups have been specifically targeted in the past.
Strikes and demonstrations due in large part to the declining economic situation frequently occur in Kinshasa. Most of these events are peaceful, but there have been increasing incidents of violence at these events of late.
There are numerous military roadblocks, especially after dark. Vehicles are often searched for weapons, and travelers checked for identity papers.
