Silent Suffering: Unmasking Racism’s Veil on the Congo Genocide
Since 1990, a devastating genocide has been unfolding in the heart of Africa, claiming millions of innocent lives- several of whom have been children. Yet, this tragedy remains largely unknown and underdiscussed by the American public. The reasons behind this silence are complex, but one undeniable factor is the insidious influence of racism.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by violence and conflict since its independence from Belgium in 1960. However, the scale of the atrocities committed in the country is often overlooked and under supported by the West, despite the DRC being a member of the United Nations since 1960. In fact, the United Nations has referred to the situation in the DRC as the deadliest conflict since World War II, with an estimated death toll surpassing five million people — almost the population of the United States of America. Still, in the last 2 months alone, there has been zero coverage of this tragedy!
The genocide in the Congo is charaterized by a complex web of factors, including ethnic tensions, political instability- which is in part the fault of the American government-, and the exploitation of natural resources in the Congo region. Armed groups, both domestic and foreign, have fueled the violence, leading to widespread displacement, sexual violence, and mass…
