DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO TODAY: OVERVIEW

Severe Poverty in Congo (Click to watch a video)

Land of Wealth and Poverty

Although the Democratic Republic of Congo has about 80 million people and a large portion of natural resources, it is the most violent place and people suffer from the instability of politics and society. Because of the corrupted government, Congolese are still not improving the desperate situation of the economy. (Prunier 1).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the second-largest country in Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. While 63% of the population lives in poverty, making approximately $800 a year, it is a country with an estimated $24 trillion of natural resources, such as natural gas, iron ore, platinum, diamonds, gold, uranium, and farm able land (“Rich in Resources, But Why Is The Democratic Republic Of The Congo Poor?”).

Belgium Colonization in Congo

Legacy of Imperialism

The DRC’s history of imperialism has created a legacy of exploitation, by both foreign powers and domestic leaders. As a result, even in the 21st century, the DRC’s abundant resources are not being utilized to enrich the native peoples, but rather to enrich the DRC’s armed groups, foreign companies, and government that has all led to the continual exploitation of the Congo people, which is one of the major causes of poverty in the DRC (Prunier).

It is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, and its central location provides a natural juncture, such as enhancing regional security to facilitate the trade of valuable minerals. However, the economy’s rapid growth has left much of the population behind. Furthermore, the lack of a responsible government has undermined careful stewardship of those resources, thus failing to benefit the local population (Prunier).