Conflict

1. Country name: Democratic Republic of Congo
2. Conflict: Gen. Laurent Nkunda, who opposes Congo’s president, has taken the nation to its most dangerous precipice in years.
3. Copy the headlines and the link to a news item reporting on that conflict: Congo Warlord Linked to Abuses Seeks Bigger Stage http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/world/africa/20congo.html?_r=1
4. Summarize the news item in your own words in 5- 8 sentences. (identify the main ideas)
General Nkunda is affecting a lot the country in many ways. He made his military campaign in October and Nove,ber, and he was opposed by many Congolese and by the United Nations. One of the things he plans to do is to remove President Kabila. This gives a lot of risks to Mr. Kabila, because he is weaker than ever. General Nkunda is all but certain to face an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for atrocities committed during his years fighting here, human rights investigators say, most recently in Kiwanja, where his men executed civilians and torched camps that housed 30,000 displaced people.
5. Describe the conflict.
Democratic Republic of Congo is a country that ended a 40 years tyranny in 2006. They elected Joseph Kabila and started a democracy, but the conflict started when a General started makinga military campaign and opposing the president. A lot of people are against him, but since the president is not in his best moment, anyone can stop him. The UN has interfered, but nothing has been solved.
6. Based on your research - geography and timeline, explain why the conflict happened. Which ones are the roots of the conflict?
The main root of this problem is that this country is new and they do not have the experince of having a democracy, so Nkunda is trying to take some advantage of it.
7. Answer:
a) Who is involved in the conflict? Nkunda and Kabila
b) Where is it happening? In Soth Africa. DR of Congo
c) When did it happen and how long has it been going on? It started in October and Novemeber with his military campaign and it has lasted until today.