COLONIALISM SPAWNED CONGO’S CATASTROPHE

Brutal armed conflict has ravaged the eastern region of the Democratic of Congo since the late 1990s. Millions have been killed and displaced, with some blaming the West’s desire to get its hands on the country’s resources. It’s argued they work with neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda, to support rebels in DRC who extract minerals then sold on international markets.

However, Pan-African scholar PLO Lumumba, says despite the new dynamics, the seeds of war in Congo were planted during the colonial era. A deliberate policy of divide and rule that not only created tension between different ethnic groups but also weakened the capacity of central government to enforce its authority across the country. That created fertile ground for the emergence and growth of rebel groups like M23 that have recently ramped up attacks against the Congolese military and civilians. Do you agree with him or this just an excuse to let perpetrators of the hook? Leave your comments below.