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March 27, 2003
Horror in the Congo
This week's Economist (subscription required) reports on how the terrible slaughter in the Congo is continuing, nearly ignored by the rest of the world:
"...this enormous and never stable country fragmented in 1998, when Rwanda and Uganda invaded to topple the Congolese government. Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia sent troops who saved the regime, but left the invaders in control of much of the country. All parties then proceeded to loot Congo's minerals, as innumerable local militias slaughtered and pillaged. Rwanda and Uganda, once allies, fell out and fought on Congolese soil. Their conflict did not last long, but the two countries remain bitterly at odds. In all, perhaps 3.5m people have died as a result of the war, mostly of disease or starvation. "
3.5 million. That's more than ten times as many as even the most pessimistic estimates for the death toll in the Iraq war.
Both the Left and the Right have neglected Africa and its problems. Both sides are totally focused on the US and its policies. If the US isn't involved, the cause of poor people isn't taken up by the Left. If Western interests aren't involved, the Right doesn't care either. And people die.
I'm not saying that Western countries should send large armies to the Congo; there is no simple solution to this tragedy. But some f---ing press coverage more often than once a year would be nice.
Posted by Tyrone at March 27, 2003 03:47 PM