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Genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Emily Nunez

Alana Perez

Taylor Rainho

Talia Santopadre

Alexandra Santos

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What is Genocide?

Genocide is the intentional killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation, by another party. Genocide generally happens when one country or race believes they are dominant over another, or can blame them for their misfortunes. A genocide is also consisted of 8 stages, which are preventable if caught soon enough.

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8 Stages of Genocide

1. Classification

2. Symbolization

3. Dehumanization

4. Organization

5. Polarization

6. Preparation

7. Extermination

8. Denial

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1. Classification

  • All countries have categories that distinguish into “us” and “them”
  • Usually a separation between religion, ethnicity, nationality, or race

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • On the side of the rebels, there were the Raia Mutomboki,
  • The most violent side of the rebels - M23 Rebels
  • M23 Rebels were led by Bosco Ntganda
  • Democratic Republic of Congo government was going against the rebels
  • DCR is led by Joseph Kabila

M23 rebels

Joseph Kabila

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2. Symbolization

  • Giving symbols to the classifications
  • Apply them to members of groups
  • Discriminating against cultural factors

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • The native people were not allowed to speak their language - Kinyarwanda
  • The rebels who targeted people that spoke this language were part of a militia called Raia Mutomboki
  • Rebels were violent towards the Congo natives
  • Rwandan and Ugandan rebels began migrating in to start their invasions and join the up and coming rebel forces such as the M23 rebels

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3. Dehumanization

  • One group denies the humanity of the other group
  • Equates them to animals, vermin, insects, disease
  • Overcomes human revulsion against murder

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Property was destroyed
  • Estimated 12,000 people were homeless due to the violence in early March of this year
  • People all over had absolutely nowhere to go
  • Soldiers were ordered to rape women
    • “We could do what we wanted” says a soldier who raped 53 women

“Nzigire Chibalonza, 60, was raped by three men on November 22, 2012. She has since been rejected by her husband. Photograph: Fiona Lloyd-Davies”

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4. Organization

  • Genocide is always organized by:
    • The state
    • An informal party
    • A terrorist group
  • Army units/militias are trained and armed
  • Plans for genocidal killings

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • M23 rebels, FDLR, and Raia Mutomboki militias were armed and trained by Rwandan people
  • Funding and ammunition came from Rwanda
  • These militias expanded their numbers as time grew on, consisting of Ugandan and Rwandan people as well as the Congolese
  • They begin to plan on ways to gather together the victims and were ordered to kill those who do not listen

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5. Polarization

  • Extremists drive groups apart
  • Hate groups broadcast propaganda against victim group
  • Laws forbid victim group to certain rights

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • The rebels continue to separate the Congo forces
  • Rebels create laws to stop the natives from practicing their culture
  • They would group up into large squads consisting of 50 people or more at a time and travel from town to town, taking either ammunition or women, and most times massacring these towns
  • Natives are having their rights taken away by the rebels

causing them to flee for safety and protection

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6. Preparation

  • Victims identified and separated
  • Death lists are drawn up
  • Victim groups forced to wear symbols
  • Segregated into an isolated area

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Mass killings start to grow in number; an estimated over 5,000 in southern regions alone
  • Victims are separated into their groups further
  • The fleeing of entire towns have made for easier targets
  • Killings become less and less merciful and more random
  • Power is being gained on the rebels forces, allowing them to advance

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7. Extermination

  • Mass killing - the “genocide”
  • “Extermination” to killers because victims are not fully human
  • Often sponsored by the state

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Millions brutally murdered.
  • 6 million people died and more everyday
  • Women were raped and left abandoned
  • Young children were forced to serve for their country, and in many cases killed

“A view of destruction in Kitchanga town centre following heavy fighting between national forces and an armed group, 7 March. UN Photo/S. Liechti”

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8. Denial

  • Perpetrators try to cover up any evidence of genocide
    • dig up graves
    • burn bodies
  • Blame the victims
  • Block investigations
  • Continue to govern until stopped by another force

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Congo leaders began denying all charges given against murder, forced adultery, use of underaged soldiers
  • Ntaganda (Rwandan general) led rebels to brutally terrorize the DR Congo
    • Began denying all charges against him when in court
  • Just this past March Ntaganda turned himself into the International Criminal Court to plead against the crimes stated above
  • DRC asks the U.S. to deny what is happening

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Solutions For Stages

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Stage 1 (Classification):

  • Finding common ground among all the people
  • Promote common language, jobs, and education for all to transcend national identity
  • In Congo, the negotiations between the government and the rebels would have prevented early attacks
  • Intervention from outside countries to help with the terms of the compromise would have settled issues before a genocide could occur

Stage 2 (Symbolization):

  • Legally forbidding hate symbols
  • Banning group marketing and propaganda against DRC peoples
  • These laws would have to be enforced constantly
  • The people of Congo should have been allowed to speak their native language

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Solutions Stages 3-4

Stage 3 (Dehumanization):

  • Peacekeepers could have stepped in and mandated for the seizing of destruction
  • All public executions and humiliation should be banned
  • For Congo’s case, these conflicts of humiliation with rape and property should stop with the help of government
  • Destruction of houses and towns should be banned

Stage 4 (Organization):

  • The detaining of the rebel groups such as the M23 Rebels would have lessened the massacres
  • Outside forces should help to stop massacres all together
  • Higher forces such as the United Nations could have ordered a siege on their militias
  • Outside forces could have mandated a solution hearing in Congo

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Solutions for Stages 5-6

Stage 5 (Polarization):

  • Security protection such as safety routes or safe camps
  • Banning propaganda that was degrading
  • Abolish laws forbidding victim groups to take action
  • Certain rights should be abolished for both parties

Stage 6 (Preparation):

  • Stop killings/massacres in process
  • Stop segregation of the terrorized and poor
  • Outlaw the forcement to wear symbols
  • Compromise so that there are no future issues

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Solutions For Stages 7- 8

Stage 7 (Extermination):

  • Outside forces can take a stand & publicize Congo’s need for help
  • Soldiers of the U.N. could have stepped in to combat rebels
  • U.N. get situation under control through intervention
  • Outside forces orders killings to come to a halt

Stage 8 (Denial):

  • Attackers can admit to their faults and understand their wrong doings
  • Compromise to help rebuild a neutral society
  • Instead, Congo officials are still denying all charges
  • Although, Ntaganda- former leader of the rebels- turned himself in to only plead against all charges
  • Meanwhile, Congo is also asking all influential countries to deny what is happening

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Why Should It Be Stopped?

And How?

  • Since the people of countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo have limited resources, outside countries such as ours need to take a stand!
  • In some cases of genocide, the country itself is not aware of what is going on in their own country; for Congo’s case most of the population has been aware and under the greatest of oppressions.
  • As Congo has been kept under wraps when brought to the attention of nations such as ours, we must take it upon ourselves to educate the uninformed.
  • The fact that genocide is still ongoing and hasn’t been deterred provides reason to call attention to genocide watch websites that provide more in depth information on how and when to act.
  • Above all, cooperation between countries worldwide is the biggest step prevent any other genocides from occurring. This ultimately will prevent such horrid events as this from reoccurring.

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Bibliography