Here’s a big resource-rich country, which was a basket case before it even became a country and has pretty much stayed that way. It seemed worth a visit even if it was on all the “don’t go” lists, writes Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet
Congo
Congo: still the rape capital
The mass rape of 300 women, men and children in a village in Congo has sparked a UN investigation into the incident. Even government troops sent to protect the victims have been accused of raping and looting.
The tech industry’s bloody secret
The mineral trade that powers the manufacturing of computers, mp3 players, mobiles and other gadgets could also be funding a bloody civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Do some of the world’s biggest electronics companies have blood on their hands?
Media ignores Congo, focuses on Darfur
Why is the Congo so neglected? Some of the usual explanations—the victims are black, the conflict zone is somewhat inaccessible—are overly simplistic. Darfur is similar but has spurred far more coverage.
Conflict in the Congo: a Crikey wrap
UN peacekeeping forces stand by useless as the rebels bump up recruitment of child soldiers and refugees keep pouring out of conflict zones, raising fears of a cholera outbreak in camps…
Conflict in the Congo: a Crikey wrap
Violence, rebel armies sponsored by the Rwandan government, failing cease-fires, Guatemalan militia brought in as peace keeping troops and cholera breaks out in refugee camps… what’s going on?
