The most violent war since World War II
November 5, 2008

25th January 2008

The most violent war since World War II is currently being fought in one of the world’s biggest countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over five million people have been killed since 1998.

The violence shows the near powerlessness of the international community to do something help the victims. There is a lack of media coverage and a consequent lack of political will.

It also shows how global priorities are somewhat distorted – animals are more important than humans. Millions of dollars are flowing in to protect the silver back gorillas caught up in the conflict – but not much money is going to help the human victims.

Brian O’Connell works for the Irish media and his shockingly grim article on the victims of DRC is now getting some international coverage. He did a story on the work being done by Dr Denis Mukwege of the Panzi Hospital, Bakavu, DRC.

The brave doctor is an obstetrician and he specializes in assisting the victims of sexual assault. Each day, 10 new cases are admitted, some as young as nine. A large percentage of the attackers are HIV-positive and they knowingly try to infect their victims.

British and American journalists have passed through Panzi Hospital yet nothing has changed. The US will not again commit combat troops to Africa. The loss of the US troops a decade and a half ago in Somalia stays in the US political memory.

The British have been more willing to get directly involved in African affairs – notably the high-risk military operation in Sierra Leone ordered by the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair. But it seems that the British also have no appetite for further operations in Africa.

The United Nations humanitarian chief, John Holmes, has visited the Panzi Hospital and he was horrified when he saw the conditions. The United Nations has also done nothing. There are 17,000 UN troops in the country – but they are unwilling to take on the various militia groups that are conducting these operations.

Australia has committed some troops to UN operations in Africa over the years but Africa is no longer a major recipient of Australia’s foreign aid. Australia now prefers to pick winners and build up countries that eventually will be good trading partners. Africa is seen in Canberra as the world’s first failed continent.

Where governments refuse to go, it is often left to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals to fill the gap. The O’Connell article notes the good work being done by the Irish aid NGO Trocaire.

It is pleasing to see that some non-governmental Australians are also getting involved. Dr Barbara Ferguson, who worked in South Vietnam for the World Vision NGO during the Vietnam War and more recently taught at the University of New South Wales, is coming out of retirement to take on this cause.

In response to this situation in Congo, Dr Ferguson will convene meetings with representatives of interested women’s groups in Sydney, including Rosemary Kariuki of the African Women’s Association. The women plan first to provide practical assistance for survivors of the atrocities through the hospital at Bakavu.

They recognize that in many similar situations women are subjected to sexual violence. They will be lobbying national and international leaders so that, at least in this particular situation, there will be pressure for the United Nations to intervene to protect women in the eastern Congo from further attacks of this nature.

Let us hope that this initiative is successful. It should certainly be supported by the new Australian Government.