Trent+W.+-+ALD+-+SP11

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Economy- diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, and crude oil are all sold and are the main sources that supply these people with their money.

Leader- Joseph Kabila (Head of State)

He was put into office after the assassination of his father, who was in charge until the point of his death. He is the youngest Head of State in the Congo's history as DRC and Zaire. He fought with his father in 1997, helping to take down the dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko of the country at that time. In a mainly Christian/Islamic country of 67 million people he has promised to heal the torn flesh of his bleeding country. After over 20 years of fighting and war, he promises redemption for his people. Salvation and peace have been promised by Mr. Kabila.

The media faces issues in printing what they feel. However freedom of speech is important, it is also important to protect one's people from the wrong type of influence. This is done in the Congo. Violence can sometimes occur, however it is avoided unless absolutely unavoidable. Although this is represented in low Ibrahim scores, it could be fixed with a little help. The Congo has been making allies like Angola and has great influence from France and America. After a cease fire called after the Cold War, America found favor in the Congo. These countries are helping to create a better, safer, and better educated place to live. (Besides $5 million dollars wouldn't hurt!)

War and destruction has raped this country for many years. On the rebound, we are struggling to protect our natural resources and reserves. Mr. Kabila has the support of Angola, the RGTA private television station, the daily L'Observateur news paper, and the Top Congo radio station. They all tell what is happening in the Congo and how Mr. Kabila is trying to resolve its issues. Also the ACP is a new state-controlled agency that brings the news to those in and around the Congo. Three countries that support the DRC are Namibia, Angola, and Zimbabwe. References include America and their President, Angola and their President, South Africa and their President, and France and their President. All of these countries the DRC holds a strong allegiance with.

Now on to national parks and forest reserves. As many are well aware, the endangered Bonobo monkey resides in the Congo. This is a very special and rare mammal that should be preserved and allowed to multiply naturally. This can be done, however poaching is a big problem in the Congo. Without money to pay for protection of these parks and forests, poachers roam freely. Bonobos are extremely intelligent creatures and their extinction would be a terrible loss for the world.

The safety of its citizens is very important to the DRC. With limited revenue and resources it can be hard for the Congo to protect its people from foreign enemies and internal fugitives. Human rights are important to the Congo, but like before it is hard to protect our people because foreign enemies plunder our minerals. The natural minerals we have is a big part in our income. Our economy would be a lot better if our natural minerals would not be stolen and we had the means to protect our mines. From what has recently occurred in the Congo, all the wars and destruction, we are developing nicely. The Congo's people are rising out of the ashes that were once their homes and are taking charge. Under the leadership of one who has seen the destruction and woe war can bring, the Congo will triumph. Mr. Kabila is solely focused on peace and prospering. He wants his country to use what is has and protect what is theirs. Human rights is also a very important to him. He is fully behind the organization to fight against rape and help install better women's rights into the country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm#facts (BBC-DRC) http://www.bonobo.org/whatisabonobo.html (The Bonobo's very own webpage!!!!) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html (CIA info on DRC)
 * http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/developing-world-stories/2009/05/cafod-from-congo-gold-mine.html (primary poverty image)
 * http://www.genderit.org/feminist-talk/democratic-republic-congo-letter-world-capital-rape (primary letter)