The protracted war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC or Congo) amounts to one of the bloodiest conflicts since World War II. Over the past decade, fighting between government forces (FARDC) and rebel groups in the eastern region of the country has cost more than five million lives.

The DRC is the 3rd largest country in Africa, slightly less than one-fourth the size of the United States, with a population of 65 million. Plagued by a history of colonialism and more than 30 years of corrupt rule, the DRC is one of the world’s poorest countries.

Ironically, the DRC is richly endowed with natural resources, from diamonds, gold and timber, to "coltan," a metallic mineral used in the production of mobile phones and laptop computers.

However, the DRC’s greatest resource — it's people — continues to struggle struggle in the face of war and poverty.

Conflict still plagues Congolese people

For five years (1997-2003) conflict raged between the DRC government, supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, and proxy rebel groups, backed by Uganda and Rwanda. A 2003 peace deal, brokered by neighboring African states and the broader international community, installed a transitional government that consisted of the main warring factions. In 2006, the country achieved an important milestone when it held its first presidential and parliamentary elections in 40 years. However, fighting continues intermittently in the eastern part of the country, particularly in North and South Kivu, where the government is still attempting to extend its control.

The last decade of conflict has resulted in some 5 million deaths; an estimated 1,200 people die every day due to ongoing epidemics and war-related causes; some aid agencies estimate upward of 1,400 deaths per day.

Most deaths are due to disease and starvation, multiple displacements of the population, and the destruction of roads, hospitals, and farms. An estimated 1.6 million people remain displaced, and some 40,000 people flee their homes every month.

Women, children, tools of war

All combatants target civilians as a tool of war. Women are raped and abducted to serve as sex slaves. In some displacement camps, more than 70 percent of women have been raped. Gang rape, rape of young girls as young as eight, and genital mutilation of rape victims are pervasive. All parties to the conflict have forcibly recruited as many as 40,000 children to fight and carry out atrocities.

Both Uganda and Rwanda still support different armed groups to fight rebels that are hiding out in eastern DRC, while also exploiting the DRC’s natural resources.

Video: Life in the Congo

Watch Claudine and Katembo's story. It begins with the event that changed the family forever — the abduction of her husband. Congo: Portrait of a Neglected Crisis, tells more of the story of Claudine, Katembo, and others who struggle to survive in the Congo.

Despite elections, tensions remain

In 2006, the country achieved an important milestone when it held its first presidential and parliamentary elections in 40 years. Despite hopes and raised expectations that the post election period would usher in peace, the Congolese government’s authority over the region remains weak, and multiple armed groups take advantage of the vacuum. Porous borders enable weapons to flow into the region with ease, funded and fueled in part by the illegal exploitation of Congo’s vast mineral wealth.

Advocating for peace in the Congo

Today, more than 55,000 children and their families are helped through World Vision sponsorship, ensuring access to food production assistance, medical care, clean water and education. And while World Vision’s work to protect and support vulnerable children and families is critical, no child can thrive until there is sustained peace.

World Vision and other nongovernmental organizations working in the DRC believe that leadership from the United States help can bring peace to this region. These groups actively advocate for:

• A strong response to humanitarian and transition needs, as well as investing in regional economic development;
• Improved security by supporting a comprehensive peace initiative to resolve the crisis;
• Increased diplomatic engagement in the DRC and neighboring countries to help bring lasting peace and stability.

Learn more

• Review the United States Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recently-released report The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Systematic assessment is needed to determine agencies’ progress toward U.S. policy objectives.
• Learn more about the history of the conflict by reading the BBC's country profile for the DRC.

What you can do

• Pray for peace and stability in the DRC.
• Take action. Ask your members of Congress to contact the State Department to encourage them to work to bring peace in eastern Congo.
• Give monthly to help provide assistance for children affected by war and conflict around the world. Your monthly contribution will help World Vision deliver critical support to these children, such as food, clean water, health care, safe shelter, trauma counseling, and more.