Killing the Congo: Understanding the Conflict in the Eastern Congo

In this video, we provide an overview of the current conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We begin with the historical development of the Congolese State and the institutionalization of graft and corruption. We analyze the far-reaching consequences of colonialism and imperialism, chronically ineffective governance, ethnic divides, and the role resources play in the DRC’s development.

Throughout our discussion we highlight the West’s complicity in the Congo’s underdevelopment and structural violence. The conflicts contained within the Congo are expressions of capitalist production, extraction, and war profiteering, processes which have long and violent histories. A weak Congo is a key aspect of the West's demands for cheap sources of raw materials. If you’re looking to understand the most important aspects of the current conflict in the DRC, this is the video for you.