Our Good Intentions and Conflict.
By Chris Young: Most times, my intentions are good. Make the world a better place. Feed the hungry. Help the poor. Cure the sick. But in some occasions, it’s not that simple. There is the case of Congo, a mineral-rich country plagued by endemic violence and corruption. The conflict is a consequence of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
Since that time, a Mapping Report has been published charging that Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda were all guilty of mass killings in Eastern Congo between 1993-2003. Despite this, the region remains largely unstable with Eastern Congo still mired in conflict.
From the outside, it appears that Congo lacks the capacity to govern effectively. But upon further review, Congo appears to be the victim of aggressive, military intervention. Since de-colonization, Congo has endured proxy wars, foreign agitators, and persistent violence.
Due to its inability to effectively set up a strong government, Congo has been unable to keep mineral companies from buying off local suppliers which are often local militias. From these profits, armed local factions have bought weapons and profited from the chaos. Simultaneously, demand for many Congolese mineral has risen as the world has experienced an IT boom. More specifically, the mineral coltan is used in the manufacturing of mobile phones and personal computers adding to the violence.
This is where I become conflicted. Section 1502 of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and the Consumer Protection Act, attempts to create a de facto Congolese mineral exports. While the intention is good, its puts an estimated two million mining workers out of work which would be devastating to those individual workers.
On another note, it can be argued that mobile phones have been good for Africa. Mobile phones have helped many Africans run businesses by quickening communication, sending money, and providing access to information. Through mobile phones, African health, education, and agriculture have all benefited greatly.
This leads back to my intentions. When I look at Congo, I become saddened, and left with a paralyzed feeling of helplessness. From a political standpoint, I see a country plagued by ethnic rifts, poor governance, and lawlessness due to many outside forces.
In my eyes, Congo simply cannot be blamed for its current situation. However, their past does not excuse utter lawlessness and brutality occurring in Eastern Congo. And this is where I become conflicted. In this global world, we are all connected. And in knowing that, I don’t want to buy mobile phones that support a brutal war in Congo. But nor do I want to stop economic development or see people become unemployed. Sadly sometimes, the cure is worse than the sickness. And while are intentions are often good, we end up creating more harm than good. I’m not saying to give up hope on Congo, but I am saying that we should all realize that even our greatest intentions may not be enough.
