Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction

The population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been the victim of exploitation of resources since the region’s pre-colonial kingdoms encountered the Europeans in the late fifteenth century. Colonization by Leopold II to use as his personal business venture and later by the Belgian government set the stage for continued political instability, ethnic divisions, and resource exploitation in the DRC. The exploitation of resources has resulted in slavery, violence, corruption, and instability that persist in some form to the modern day. This page is intended to raise awareness and educate general audiences on conflicts that have claimed millions of lives yet garnered little international attention. The DRC’s modern challenges are rooted in a century of exploitation and political instability, with foreign intervention playing a critical role in shaping outcomes.