A resurgence of regional rivalries imperils eastern Congo
Meddling neighbours add to the mayhem
The blood-soaked east of Congo can seem depressingly complex. More than 120 armed groups—a few with political aims, most mineral-hungry bandits with ak-47s—make life miserable for millions in a vast region stretching from South Sudan to Tanzania (see map). Congo’s neighbours, especially Rwanda and Uganda, have a history of fighting on its soil and looting the minerals beneath it. During the second Congo war (1998-2003), anywhere from 800,000 to 5m people died, mostly of war-related hunger or disease.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Echoes of war”
From the July 2nd 2022 edition
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