It's truly one of the most heart-breaking stories anywhere in the world since WWII, yet few are aware of it, even casually. I distinctly remember reading articles about the Congo Wars in the newspaper every morning during breakfast with my later grandfather.
When I got older, I carried out my own research to learn more about it and was absolutely appalled that there wasn't a greater effort anywhere in the world to spread wider awareness of it. I always feel sad when reading, thinking, or writing about the DRC.
Yes. And it's colonial history by king of Belgium Leopold is the most awfully of colonial history.
A pure horror. What French, Spanish, Portuguese did was already horrible but what happened to Congo is the most horrible.
To do even worse, you have only Holland and it's passion for genocide. Like they did in South Africa with Hottentot, in Surinam and with the Indian tribes near New York when it called New Amsterdam. Notice that the first Indian tribe totally eradicated in north America was made by Holland, not English.
It's only when Holland invaded England that this country began to appreciate genocide too. It's the calvinist exeptionnalism.
1/Originally, Congo was not a Belgian colony at all, but, from 1877, the private property of a man who happened to be King of the Belgians as well: Leopold II. Actually, Belgium itself had nothing to do with what was called 'the Congo Free State." It was only in 1908 that Congo became a Belgian colony.
2/In an article of The American Conservative (17 April 2023) Bruce Gilley, professor of political science at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, states:
>For the past 25 years, the idea of the Congo has been closely linked in the Western imagination to the 1998 book King Leopold’s Ghost by the American journalist Adam Hochschild. The book is widely assigned in high schools and colleges, and it regularly tops best-seller lists in colonial, African, and Western history. Hochschild has become a sort of king of the Congo, or at least of its history. The book is reflexively cited by reputable scholars in their footnotes any time they wish to assert that it is “well known” and “beyond doubt” that sinister men in Europe wrought havoc in Africa over a century ago. Any discussion of the Congo, or of European colonialism more generally, invariably begins with the question: “Have you read King Leopold’s Ghost?”
I have read it. And I can declare that it is a vast hoax, full of distortions and errors both numerous and grave, a few of which I will detail in this short essay."<
This is a very insightful breakdown of how resource competition and geopolitical strategy intersect in the Eastern DRC conflict. The peace deal’s emphasis on formalizing mining supply chains highlights how economic interests—especially access to critical minerals—drive diplomatic efforts.
This was genius by Trump. He outfoxed Xi and hurt a major source of minerals controlled by China. This could in fact lead to change at the top of the CCP. Xi not going to the BRICS meeting in Brazil was quite telling. The CCP is losing faith with XI. This runaround against China hurt its Belt and Road initiative in the region and when the US kicks them out it’ll be another financial investment loss for China. A brilliant move.
The peace deal was signed within three days of negotiations in Washington, with immediate deadlines for launching oversight bodies and beginning regional integration within 90 days.
These accelerated benchmarks reflect the mediator’s priorities. The U.S. seeks demonstrable progress to anchor mineral investment plans and bolster claims of diplomatic efficacy. However, the sociopolitical landscape in eastern Congo does not conform to these timelines.
Militia networks remain operational, M23 holds cities and roads, and displaced populations have yet to return. None of these conditions can be rapidly transformed by decree.
Parties may engage in performative compliance, such as announcing demobilizations or initiating symbolic withdrawls, while leaving coercive structures intact. This creates an illusion of progress, encouraging international actors to disburse aid or endorse investment prematurely.
'lawless Eastern DRC’s large-scale illegal mining industry, in which China reportedly plays a major role'??
The word is 'allegedly,' not 'reportedly'.
This is the allegation made by the author of your linked post: "China has been invading the African continent across different sectors, including real estate, road infrastructure, telecommunication, textiles, medium and small enterprises, timber, oil, fishing, and natural resources (focusing on minerals)”.
Since the author is the beneficiary of grants from several Western NGOs and Harvard's human rights published it....
Ugh, you again. Anyone can conduct supplementary research to learn about China's REPORTED -- and yes, reported, as it, included in various reports -- role in this illegal industry:
And yeah, I already know, you're going to find some way to discredit these reports, it's so predictable. Lemme guess, "they're Western-financed so they're flat-out false!", amirite? Everything in support of the narrative, always and forever, you're all the same.
I get it, you're a communist, a lifelong hardcore diehard supporter of China, yada yada yada, fine, but these sorts of comments are obnoxious and suggest that even the mildest perception of China not being some flawless country isn't tolerated among your ilk.
This quibble aside, it's either delusional or dishonest to suggest that the US has no intention to push China out of the DRC's critical mineral industry, but this approach isn't surprising whatsoever at all.
Congo.
It seems that God have damned this country since two centuries. Poor people.
The worst and most abominable European colonisation of all history by Belgium.
Then an horrible dictatorship french backed Mobutu.
Then an horrible Anglo-Saxons backed civil war( 10 millions deaths, who care?)
The wealthiest country of Africa, looted, abused, oppressed, given to local wild barbarians. A collective rape without ending.
It's truly one of the most heart-breaking stories anywhere in the world since WWII, yet few are aware of it, even casually. I distinctly remember reading articles about the Congo Wars in the newspaper every morning during breakfast with my later grandfather.
When I got older, I carried out my own research to learn more about it and was absolutely appalled that there wasn't a greater effort anywhere in the world to spread wider awareness of it. I always feel sad when reading, thinking, or writing about the DRC.
Yes. And it's colonial history by king of Belgium Leopold is the most awfully of colonial history.
A pure horror. What French, Spanish, Portuguese did was already horrible but what happened to Congo is the most horrible.
To do even worse, you have only Holland and it's passion for genocide. Like they did in South Africa with Hottentot, in Surinam and with the Indian tribes near New York when it called New Amsterdam. Notice that the first Indian tribe totally eradicated in north America was made by Holland, not English.
It's only when Holland invaded England that this country began to appreciate genocide too. It's the calvinist exeptionnalism.
1/Originally, Congo was not a Belgian colony at all, but, from 1877, the private property of a man who happened to be King of the Belgians as well: Leopold II. Actually, Belgium itself had nothing to do with what was called 'the Congo Free State." It was only in 1908 that Congo became a Belgian colony.
2/In an article of The American Conservative (17 April 2023) Bruce Gilley, professor of political science at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, states:
>For the past 25 years, the idea of the Congo has been closely linked in the Western imagination to the 1998 book King Leopold’s Ghost by the American journalist Adam Hochschild. The book is widely assigned in high schools and colleges, and it regularly tops best-seller lists in colonial, African, and Western history. Hochschild has become a sort of king of the Congo, or at least of its history. The book is reflexively cited by reputable scholars in their footnotes any time they wish to assert that it is “well known” and “beyond doubt” that sinister men in Europe wrought havoc in Africa over a century ago. Any discussion of the Congo, or of European colonialism more generally, invariably begins with the question: “Have you read King Leopold’s Ghost?”
I have read it. And I can declare that it is a vast hoax, full of distortions and errors both numerous and grave, a few of which I will detail in this short essay."<
(https://www.theamericanconservative.com/king-hochschilds-hoax/)
I'm not an expert in the matter, but Bruce Gilley's essay is absolutely worth reading. It would not be the first horror story that has been debunked.
Very informative article, thanks a lot for sharing, I just got done reading it.
Unz, get out of this body!!! 😂
Lame reply.
This is a very insightful breakdown of how resource competition and geopolitical strategy intersect in the Eastern DRC conflict. The peace deal’s emphasis on formalizing mining supply chains highlights how economic interests—especially access to critical minerals—drive diplomatic efforts.
This was genius by Trump. He outfoxed Xi and hurt a major source of minerals controlled by China. This could in fact lead to change at the top of the CCP. Xi not going to the BRICS meeting in Brazil was quite telling. The CCP is losing faith with XI. This runaround against China hurt its Belt and Road initiative in the region and when the US kicks them out it’ll be another financial investment loss for China. A brilliant move.
The peace deal was signed within three days of negotiations in Washington, with immediate deadlines for launching oversight bodies and beginning regional integration within 90 days.
These accelerated benchmarks reflect the mediator’s priorities. The U.S. seeks demonstrable progress to anchor mineral investment plans and bolster claims of diplomatic efficacy. However, the sociopolitical landscape in eastern Congo does not conform to these timelines.
Militia networks remain operational, M23 holds cities and roads, and displaced populations have yet to return. None of these conditions can be rapidly transformed by decree.
Parties may engage in performative compliance, such as announcing demobilizations or initiating symbolic withdrawls, while leaving coercive structures intact. This creates an illusion of progress, encouraging international actors to disburse aid or endorse investment prematurely.
'lawless Eastern DRC’s large-scale illegal mining industry, in which China reportedly plays a major role'??
The word is 'allegedly,' not 'reportedly'.
This is the allegation made by the author of your linked post: "China has been invading the African continent across different sectors, including real estate, road infrastructure, telecommunication, textiles, medium and small enterprises, timber, oil, fishing, and natural resources (focusing on minerals)”.
Since the author is the beneficiary of grants from several Western NGOs and Harvard's human rights published it....
Ugh, you again. Anyone can conduct supplementary research to learn about China's REPORTED -- and yes, reported, as it, included in various reports -- role in this illegal industry:
https://www.ifri.org/en/papers/sino-congolese-scandal-illegal-exploitation-minerals-and-forests-chinese-companies-south
https://qz.com/africa/2059378/china-will-punish-its-own-companies-if-they-break-laws-in-the-drc
(^^^ this one is a real narrative conundrum for you! lol)
https://www.africanews.com/2025/01/14/south-kivu-chinese-nationals-face-charges-of-illegal-mining//
https://adf-magazine.com/2025/01/drc-takes-action-against-illegal-chinese-mining/
https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20241027-eastern-dr-congo-grapples-with-chinese-gold-mining-firms
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/africa-chinese-companies-accused-of-being-involved-in-illegal-exploitive-mining-practices-in-africa-causing-socio-economic-problems/
And yeah, I already know, you're going to find some way to discredit these reports, it's so predictable. Lemme guess, "they're Western-financed so they're flat-out false!", amirite? Everything in support of the narrative, always and forever, you're all the same.
I get it, you're a communist, a lifelong hardcore diehard supporter of China, yada yada yada, fine, but these sorts of comments are obnoxious and suggest that even the mildest perception of China not being some flawless country isn't tolerated among your ilk.
This quibble aside, it's either delusional or dishonest to suggest that the US has no intention to push China out of the DRC's critical mineral industry, but this approach isn't surprising whatsoever at all.
Get him Andrew!!