Country Information - Congo Background
 Democratic
Republic of Congo is a country in its first year of rule
by a democratically elected government. WVI's Ruzizi Valley
Project is located just north of Lake Tanganyika in the
eastern-most part of Congo, in the province of South Kivu.
Countries bordering the Ruzizi Valley Project site are Burundi and Rwanda.
All three countries, Congo, Rwanda and Burundi speak
French, however, Rwanda and Burundi did not do so until
Germany ceded them to Belgium after World War I. People
living in the province of South Kivu also speak Swahili.
 The Ruzizi Valley benefits from a regular rainfall throughout
most of the year. The soil is some of the most fertile
anywhere in Africa. The valley is mostly flat with
beautiful round mountains on its western border. The temperature
is a moderate 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit (about 25 Celsius)
year round. Currently, the valley
is covered with a lush
cover of grasses and legumes, but few trees. Before
the recent fighting, this area was covered with bountiful
plantations
and farms, and provided lush pastures for hundreds
of thousands of cows.
 Political Situation
At present the government of the Democratic Republic
of Congo is engaged in skirmishes with rebel factions.
Over the past eight years, nearly four million people have
died as a result of the civil war in Congo. The farms and
plantations of the Ruzizi Valley were wiped out.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright has stated, "Because of [Democratic
Republic of Congo's] location and size, and because of
the number of countries involved, the conflict there
could be described as Africa's first world war."
Presently, most fighting is sporadic and is focused in
North Kivu where precious mineral resources are attractive
to various factions. Many people have fled to the city
of Bukavu, which is in the northern tip of South Kivu.
But living conditions there are harsh and dangerous.
Throughout the later half of 2006, DR Congo held numerous
democratic elections, for both regional and national governments.
This was the first time in 40 years that the people of
Congo chose their leaders.
Additional background on DR Congo may be found on BBC
and UN websites, including the following links:
PBS: The
Media's Ongoing Neglect of Congo
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june05/neglectednews_02-04.html#
BBC: Country profile: Democratic Republic of Congo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm
BBC:
Q&A: DR Congo conflict
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3075537.stm |
