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The conflict in the Great Lakes region persists for a very long time now and involves nearly all neighbouring countries. Connected with the most severe and longest crisis on the African continent is also the genocide in Rwanda of 1994, which was ignored by the world community. The Democratic Republic of Congo, central to that region, is a country of the size of Western Europe and with huge natural resources, but it is known better for corruption, nepotism, violent crimes and the impossibility of governing this huge country. The first dictator Mobutu Sese Seko was replaced by another dictator, Laurent Kabila, who was then, after his assassination, followed by his son – in the most undemocratic way imaginable. The complexity is enhanced even more through marauding gangs, mercenaries and foreign army troops and the interests of foreign companies, which are mainly interested in the country`s vast resources. The conflict consists of numerous smaller conflicts, which we will examine and find solutions to. Language of instruction is German, presentations can also be held in English.
Literature:Chiari, Bernhard/ Dieter H. Kollmer (Hrsg.) 2006: Demokratische Republik Kongo. Paderborn, München, Wien, Zürich: Ferdinand Schöningh. (Hrsg. In der Reihe Wegweiser zur Geschichte im Auftrag des Militärgeschichtlichen Forschungsamtes).
Conrad, Joseph 2004: Herz der Finsternis. München: Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH.
Hochschild, Adam 2002: Schatten über dem Kongo. Die Geschichte eines fast vergessenen Menschheitsverbrechens. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt.
Wrong, Michela 2002: Auf den Spuren von Mr. Kurtz. Mobutus Aufstieg und Kongos Fall. Berlin: Verlag Klaus Bittermann.
Heise, Albrecht 2006: Der alltägliche Ausnahmezustand. Kongo im Chaos. Wien: Picus.
African Rights 2000: The Cycle of Conflict. Which Way Out in the Kivus? London: African Rights.
Scherrer, Christian P. 1999: Central Africa. Genocide, Crisis and Change. Peace Process in Burundi, Normalization in Rwanda, Regional War in Congo-DR. Moers: Institut zur Förderung der Ethnizitätsforschung und Konfliktbearbeitung.
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