The issues in Congo are troubling/horrifying but as it pertains to Rwanda, the atrocities were made ever more stark by the fact that estimates place up to 1/5th of the population being murdered. Further, it didn't help that the Congolese government backed by France at the time backed the Hutu government in Rwanda that committed the atrocities. I admit I'm not as familiar with the details of what's happened in the DRC so I should have specified that it was what I found most troubling about the Rwandan massacres/genocide. I won't defend the atrocities in Rwanda (and committed by Rwanda in the DRC), though I will note that a key issue to peace has been that members of the former Hutu government fled into the Congo and have also launched attacks from there ever since.
I note further that it isn't just former members of the Hutu government that have seemed to run amok in the DRC, the LRA that has had a history of attacks into Uganda and kidnapped child soldiers have also found shelter in the DRC.
It is a complete mess though even in the Congo, the history of direct French involvement when it came to mercantilism can be traced to just prior to the recent civil war (ie oil contracts). A big part of French/Belgian legacy (and a recent one at that) has been the tribalism that was allowed to flourish if not even encouraged.
These surrounding nations have exported their instability to the Congo. The Ugandans claim they are looking for LRA, the Rwandans are looking for Hutus, neither are native to Congo.
So, not finding any rebels around, they decide instead to chop the arms off any Congolese children they might run across, after massacring all of the adults. AWESOME.
You can put grand names like LRA, or Ugandan Army, or Rwandan army or whatever you like on these guys. That doesn't make them anything more than petty criminals with an ego running around playing cowboys and indians. Only they are too chicken$#it to engage each other in battle, so they prove their mettle by massacring civilians. Each new massacre meant to 'one up' the last massacre by the other side.
Ridding the Congo of Rwandans and Ugandans etc etc is long over due. It is time that the world stops coddling these monsters. A boot in the @ss of every Ugandan and Rwandan found in the Congo, now that's change that all of Africa would believe in.
I note further that it isn't just former members of the Hutu government that have seemed to run amok in the DRC, the LRA that has had a history of attacks into Uganda and kidnapped child soldiers have also found shelter in the DRC.
It is a complete mess though even in the Congo, the history of direct French involvement when it came to mercantilism can be traced to just prior to the recent civil war (ie oil contracts). A big part of French/Belgian legacy (and a recent one at that) has been the tribalism that was allowed to flourish if not even encouraged.