INTERNATIONAL

The Bloodiest War

Civilians from the eastern Congo tell their stories

By Katie Paul | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Nov 25, 2008 | Updated: 10:16  a.m. ET Nov 25, 2008

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 11/28/2008 3:12:46 AM

    Even if they are fighting for the various minerals, it is their own choice to fight each other. They are so selfish that they cannot share the wealth equally among themselves! There are many countries in the world that share their natural resources amongst their states. For example the Australians do not kill each other for minerals found within the other states. The states without minerals can live peacefully with the states with minerals in Australia. Look at India having so many states, some having minerals and some have barren deserts, they have more cultural, religiousand racial diversities, but they don't kill each other continuosly like the Congolese. By the way I can't differentiate between the Hutus and Tutsis, they ought to behave like siblings in one big happy family, but no, no, they choose to kill each other!.The Congolese are dooomed because of their attitude. This is the African way; kill, kill and be killed! Let it be.

    • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/28/2008 6:23:03 PM

      There goes Mohamad. Bigot as ever.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 11/27/2008 4:41:07 AM

    There are other regions that need help in resolving their conflicts. However Congo is not worthwhile!

    • Posted By: Winter360 @ 11/27/2008 10:03:43 PM

      Can't you see it's western demand for their mineral wealth that drives the conflict? We haven't got to directly intervene so much as cut off the dollars going in and the raw exports coming out until some stability has been achieved.

      • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/28/2008 6:21:10 PM

        there are very big people with very expensive lobying in Washington that would not let that happen, they earn form it and so how ever dies they do not care, have you watched the movie Quantum of Solace. You would understnad the influence that is being brought to bear.

  • Posted By: Winter360 @ 11/27/2008 10:12:24 PM

    It's hard to wrap your thoughts aroung the horrors occuring in the Congo, so I think a natural defense for people against the chilling reality of it is to label the congolese some sort of "other" people, people who must be naturally violent, without solution. It lets us file it away, and put it out of our thoughs as not relavent. It's much harder to acknowledge they're people like any others trapped in a societal breakdown of factions fighting for resources, driven by global demand. To see them as ordinary moms and dads, trying to care for children and carve out a place for their families in the midst of these atrocities places too much demand on us to feel, to act, when there's no clear action for any individual person to take. Better to rationalize away the hurt.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 11/27/2008 4:38:49 AM

    There is no benefit from colonizing Congo. There is also no point in helping them.It is better for the US and EU to save the gorrillas rather then those people who like to kill each other for nothing! If they cannot tolerate each other since the 60s why should anyone be bothered now?There is no subtle difference between the conflicting factions, they all looked the same.Moreover the gorillas are endangered sapecies.

    • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/27/2008 2:19:25 PM

      I am taking you for an ignorant bigot that you sound like. However the EU and US if they want to do business in Africa and be appreciated like the Chinese are doing must realise that they can not forment chaos and expect us to respond to them positively. I repeat they should stop both the USA and EU giving weapons and material help to Nkunda who continue to spill African Blood on their behave. They should stop sponsoring the murderous government of Kagame in Rwanda and they should respect the Congolese sovereignity and the democratically elected governemnt of Joseph Kabila. If they USA and the EU do the above the war will be over and I can attest to this; without the above measure the war will continue to kill Africans. What is the role of the Africans in this; It is to tell the world the truth that is going on, the pillage of Congo resources by American and the British companies, the rape of women and children by the UN solders in this case the Indian contigence, and lastly the ammount of people that have died out of this a staggering 5 million Africans have died in this war and they never needed to.

    • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/27/2008 1:38:36 PM

      I am taking you for an ignorant bigot that you sound like. However the EU and US if they want to do business in Africa and be appreciated like the Chinese are doing must realise that they can not forment chaos and expect us to respond to them positively. I repeat they should stop both the USA and EU giving weapons and material help to Nkunda who continue to spill African Blood on their behave. They should stop sponsoring the murderous government of Kagame in Rwanda and they should respect the Congolese sovereignity and the democratically elected governemnt of Joseph Kabila. If they USA and the EU do the above the war will be over and I can attest to this; without the above measure the war will continue to kill Africans. What is the role of the Africans in this; It is to tell the world the truth that is going on, the pillage of Congo resources by American and the British companies, the rape of women and children by the UN solders in this case the Indian contigence, and lastly the ammount of people that have died out of this a staggering 5 million Africans have died in this war and they never needed to.

  • Posted By: Wolvrne88 @ 11/25/2008 11:33:12 PM

    The trouble in Congo and other African countries with unatural borders will continue until the world community steps in with a mandate to redraw borders consistant with national identities, ethnic enclaves and traditional tribal boundries. The legacy of European colonialism is the present tragedy that we find all over Africa (and the Middle East). As many African countries are rich in natural resouces, I don't expect to see redrawn borders any time soon. Sad, sad, sad...

    • Posted By: Tabi @ 11/26/2008 7:12:56 PM

      Wilsonian idealism does not work very well. It failed in Europe because there are no natural borders based on ethnicity. People are very mixed together, in Africa as well as Europe.

      For instance, the Congo could be split in two. But whatever way you split it, you'll have minorities on each side that the other are going to brutally oppress (especially considering their recent history). Furthermore, being split into two countries does not stop them from warring against each other--using enclaves of their respective tribes as an excuse. A good example would be India, Pakistan and Kashmir.

      The natural borders in an anarchy are based around power relations. The first step to ending the anarchy is for the fighting powers to start worrying more about keeping what they have then taking what the others have. This allows "natural" borders to appear.

      The only alternative is a partial return to colonialism. Come in in force, impose a police state and get people used to orderly lives again. Then slowly cede power over a generation or two. The old politics of hate has to be given time to get buried at least to the point where the minorities on each side feel like blacks in the 1870s (diminished rights, occasional murders, but neither enslaved nor hunted).

      • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/26/2008 7:56:52 PM

        No body need to be colonised. As an african this kind of comment is most offending. Did the cololialism of Iraq work, well the answer is it did not. the war in Congo has an American and EU influence and if that could stop t5he war would be over. But while this two powers continue to meddle with Congo, people continue to die and they do know who is killing them. Nkunda is sponsored by Britain and Americans and everybody in Africa knows this.

        • Posted By: Tabi @ 11/26/2008 9:21:08 PM

          I was referring to the level of presence that would be necessary to force a peace. Peace can either be brought about by internal or external means. The internal politics of the region has grown so toxic that this violence is likely to continue for quite some time. The conflict cannot be viewed in the lens of traditional Western Wars that are fought for a year or more; this is the sort of conflict that lasts a generation or more. The conflict in the Congo is the sort of conflict where the only "good guys" are the victims we see. Any faction we prop up will simply use its newly found advantage against its rivals. That unfortunately leaves something in the style of colonialism--locking the country down until the conflicts can be adequately buried.

          I do not like the situation; I doubt anyone here does. But as I see it, our best options are to let the conflict run its course while providing safe zones to help the victims (what we are trying to do); or to impose order with a heavy boot (the colonial style solution). The latter solution can work, but only if an incredible troop presence is brought, aid is quickly distributed and the committed parties understand that the time-table in the range of 25-50 years is established. If done right, the army may not be greeted as liberators, but they may be greeted as the people who brought order and food--and a promise to leave after 30 years.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 11/25/2008 10:39:43 PM

    Let them kill each other until there is no one to kill anymore. The UN should just guard the borders so that nobody can go in and get out of Congo. Close all ports and exit points including airports. Quarantine the whole country. To help further, all hardcore convicts in the world should be sent to Congo and let them survive or die there. Somewhat like what Britain did when they used Australia as a penal colony.

    • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/26/2008 8:14:34 PM

      It will not happen the way a bigot like you want.

  • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/26/2008 7:44:35 PM

    the US and EU are now colonising Congo and they should stop.

  • Posted By: Nkundarahamwe @ 11/26/2008 7:44:21 PM

    the US and EU are now colonising Congo and they should stop.

  • Posted By: skeetchamp @ 11/26/2008 11:33:30 AM

    For eight years we've had a president with no morals so we are in a position where we can't help people like these who really need it. We may not even be able to save ourselves.

  • Posted By: Sayuri @ 11/26/2008 1:20:23 AM

    You people saying they should just all die are bestial. You think just because there has been a long history of bad people doing horrible things to good people, that they should all kill each other? You believe anyone with that history will always turn out a murdering, raping, horrible human being? You're no different from them then, you're just another ignorant, murdering, unfeeling pig. All you hear is the bad things, so you think there is just all bad. What about those people who provide for their families with love and care? What about those people who starve themselves so their families can eat? What about those who go back at the expense of their own lives to help others? What about those who make places within their own homes for others to stay in?
    All these people need is help- and only the UN is helping because no one else is stepping in, oh no, there is no oil in Africa. No real soil to grow things in.
    And all your people being racists, especially towards Obama, GROW UP. He is president, you know what real grown ups do? They get the hell over it. Obama won, freaking deal with it. What makes other people so much better? White people invaded America, killed the Native Americans and took their land. Spanish did it too. So did Asians. Why don???t you all go to some history classes and learn something. ALL race is- classification! We are all human beings with feelings, why don???t all you racists start tapping into your feelings like humans usually do.
    It???s people like all you hate filled people that make this world suffer the most.

  • Posted By: rtleon @ 11/26/2008 12:02:43 AM

    What is wrong with you guy's comments? How would you like to be stuck there with no aid nor hopes of getting out alive??? You show no compassion, neither will you get any when it will be your turn, if you all keep thinking like that. The perpetrators need to be caught by either war or intelligence tactics and have them go to trial for their atrocities. Congo obviously needs foreign help.
    And though I am 100% white of european descent, I am sick and disgusted of the racial comments posted here. You have no right to judge people this way. But if you won't pay attention, keep doing your thing, your fate will be similar as to these people. You'll see.

  • Posted By: grwngrl48 @ 11/25/2008 11:20:16 PM

    I've had the utmost respect for Newsweek until now. The devastation being wrought in the Congo is awful and after all this time for there not to be a solution, for an understanding of just why this is occuring is beyond comprehension. Particularly the raping of women and children. And yet I thought nothing could be worse until I see the comments posted regarding this by sick sexist, racist folks who while they may come from a "civilized country" obviously are no better than the people creating the mess going on in the Congo. Shame on them and Newsweek.

  • Posted By: mikewadestr @ 11/25/2008 11:14:55 PM

    This is not news. These people kill other all the time. Everyone should stay out of it and not take sides.

  • Posted By: St. Germain @ 11/25/2008 10:32:54 PM

    Is this an indicator of the type of leadership we can expect from obama?????????.

  • Posted By: lheilmann @ 11/25/2008 9:40:56 PM

    gee, percy, you don't really add much to this world, do you?

  • Posted By: mkarslake @ 11/25/2008 9:29:01 PM

    Very tragic and sad events i Congo. The slaughter of the innocents goes on one more time. I will be praying for God's Peace in the Congo

  • Posted By: mkarslake @ 11/25/2008 9:28:35 PM

    Very tragic and sad events i Congo. The slaughter of the innocents goes on one more time. I will be praying for God's Peace in the Congo.

  • Posted By: Gimmeabreak78 @ 11/25/2008 7:56:18 PM

    This is absoulutely dispicable. Why are governments like this allowed to persist? Oh yes, I forget--because Africans are mostly black and there is no oil in the Congo.

  • Posted By: NotAScientologist @ 11/25/2008 3:07:28 PM

    What is good for Bush's friends is good for Bush. What is bad for America's future is bad for Obama.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse