Sudan, specifically Darfur, is a situation which needs to be dealt with and much talk and publicity has been circulated. Another issue which I would love to have as much time, care and devotion spent on in the media is Congo. Don’t forget Sudan, but remember Congo.

Since 1998 more than 5 million people have died as a result of the conflict. This is the highest death toll for any on-going conflict since WWII. (note: the Wikipedia entry only covers the “official war” and not the on-going conflict.) This is a rate of 45,000 per month.

A peace deal for the Eastern Congo has been signed between 20 militias and the government. But the question remains (as does the pessimism), will this last?

Doubts exist for a number of reasons. A large one exists because the issues do not necessarily regard ideological differences. Rather it is mostly about resources. Greed and not grievance. While the latter might feed into the former, that is not primarily the case.

Another reason is because the on-going conflict was propelled by Western corporations.

If you watched “Blood Diamonds” or understand the issue of blood diamonds, and you feel that it is wrong to wear diamonds from war-torn areas then maybe you should feel the same way about technology as you do about jewelry. Why? Because Congo had the greatest riches in resources out of all African countries. Diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil, gold, chromium and so on. Much of these are used everyday. Copper, cobalt, gold and chromium are used in electronics. Something from Congo likely is in your computer right now.

For example, North American companies have been mining coltan in Congo (I should add allegedly, because they deny it). “Coltan is the colloquial African name for columbite-tantalite, a metallic ore used to produce the elements niobium and tantalum.” (wiki-pedia). And is used in capacitors.

UPDATE: Tantalum is another resource found in Congo and used in capacitors. Tantalum capacitors are a key component for cell phones. 80% of tantalum is found in Africa and a majority of that is found in Congo.

Maybe it is time for people to stop thinking about the false economy of diamonds and look to issues which their daily choices control. Many will say they need their computer, I understand that. But the choices which are out of your hands are the ones you need to get your hands on.

Maybe the peace in Congo will last a day, maybe a week, maybe a hundred years, maybe it won’t. 45,000 were dying every month and over half were under 5 years old. They need medication. They need water. They need peace.

UPDATE 2: A link for those who might be more curious – MakeItFair.org

Conflicts with a larger death toll than the Second Congo War.

• World War II (1939-1945)
• An Shi Rebellion (756-763)
• Mongol Conquests (1207-1279)
• Manchu conquest of the Ming Dynasty (1616-1662)
• World War I. (1914-1918)
• Conquests of Timur (1369-1405)
• Russian Civil War (1917-1921)