Civil Wars in Congo
by Christopher Black
 

The so-called Democratic Republic of Congo, formally Zaire, is central to the events of the last 15 years in the region. It is a country of vast size, as large as all of Western Europe, and is rich in resources. It contains large deposits of industrial diamonds, cobalt, copper, columbite-tantalite (or coltan, used to make micro-chips), gold, zinc, manganese, coal, cadmium, and germanium, used to make semi conductors. It has the largest forest reserves in Africa. Its hydroelectric generating potential would meet over half of Africa’s needs. The eastern province of Katanga ...   more »