Prisoners of geography?
diamond, with the potential mineral wealth of the region being estimated at $24 trillion. 8 However, the DRC has been plagued by the ‘resource curse’, where natural resource -abundant economies suffer from slower GDP and developmental growth than economies without substantial resources. 9 It is developing nations, such as the DRC, that are most adversely impacted by the resource curse, as they can quickly become over-reliant on a specific industry (typically mineral extraction or similar), meaning their whole economy is vulnerable to sudden price changes. Corruption within government and malfunctioning bureaucracy can exacerbate this. Also, the resource curse often results in conflict. N eighbouring countries’ armies, most notably those of Uganda and Rwanda, have entered the DRC (ostensibly in support of one side or another) to plunder resources. For example, it is believed that foreign forces have illegally extracted diamonds from the centrally located city of Mbuji-Mayi. 10 However, the physical landscape of Africa cannot solely be blamed for the social and ethnopolitical issues present; arguably the actions of humans throughout history and the modern era have had an equally devastating impact upon Africa, especially in Somalia and the DRC. The colonial legacy of both these African nations left them riddled with corruption and geopolitically fragmented. For example, Somalia only gained complete independence from Britain in July 1960 and a huge power vacuum was left, eventually enabling Mohamed Siad Barre to gain power following a military coup in 1969. 11 However, Barrewas overthrown in 1991 by Somali rebel forces, following themass genocide of 100,000 of the Isaaq people (one of the largest Somali ethnic groups) by his tyrannical government, leading to the beginning of the Somali Civil War between various armed factions. 12 As earlier mentioned, over 1 million people died between 1991 and 1999 during Somalia’s ‘statelessness’, either because of direct conflict or disease/malnutrition as a result of the war. Indeed, it has been these fights for power and also the problem of religious extremism that has left Somalia unstable and impoverished. The Islamic terrorist organization Al Shabaab has brought violence to the streets of Somalia, as part of their Jihad, killing, for example, over 500 people in the Somali capital city Mogadishu by detonating two twin bombs. 13 The DRC has had similar problems with civil war as a result of different factions attempting to seize power following independence from colonial rule. The DRC was freed of Belgian rule in 1960 and the lack of any governmental structure or bureaucracy meant that civil conflict began almost immediately, with government supporters – backed by Angolan rebels – fighting against DRC rebels (backed by the USA) and the Angolan government (backed by the Soviets). This civil conflict (also a proxy conflict of the Cold War) between 1960 and 1965 became known as the ‘Congo Crisis’ and over 100,000 are believed to have been killed. 14 This is an example of how the DRC could be simply viewed as a prisoner of traditional human conflict, in that they were used as a battleground between two clashing political ideologies. Indeed, this problem has been exacerbated by the 200 different ethnic groups within the country, making stable leadership difficult and complex. 15 Therefore, it could be argued that Africa’s harmful colonial past, the prevalence of religious extremism, and the existence of a plethora of competing ethnic groups/tribes has been more to blame for socio-economic issues and 8 Fergusson (note 1). 9 Mehlum, H., Moene, K. & Torvik, R. (2006) ‘Institutions and the resource c urse.’ The Economic Journal. 10 Oakes (note 2). 11 Fergusson (note 1). 12 Fergusson (note 1). 13 Wikipedia contributors. ‘Al - Shabaab (militant group).’ Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopaedia , 9 Jul. 2020; Marangio (note 5). 14 Saideman, S. (2001). ‘Understanding the Congo Crisis’. The Ties That Divide: Ethnic Politics, Foreign Policy, and International Conflict : 51-56. 15 Marshall (note 3).
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