In Chains: Christian Persecution - 2019, Issue 1

DRC: Extremism,
Violence, Politics,
and Christians
Laura Murray
BRIEF HISTORY
We hear so little about the violence and
persecution that goes on within the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Originally named Republic of Congo when it
gained independence from Belgium in 1960,
the DRC has vast mineral riches and is
almost entirely Christian. Like much of
Africa, the DRC has followed the pattern of:
Western colonization followed by
independence, civil war, fragmentation, and
dictatorship. The country has been riddled
with coups, assassinations, and sham
elections from its inception.
In 1965, just 5 years after it gained
independence, there was a coup. The
country was renamed Zaire and the leader,
Mobutu, remained in power for 32 years
through sham elections and through force.
This led to ethnic strife and civil war.
In 2002, the government was successful in
negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan
forces in eastern DRC and the Pretoria
Accord was signed shortly thereafter. This
accord was signed by all warring parties to
end the Yighting and establish a uniYied
government. In 2006, the DRC held a
successful election.
There were a few years of relative stability.
Around 2009, there was a resurgence of
conYlict in the eastern DRC. The
perpetrators were called the National
Congress for the Defense of the People
(CNDP), and were primarily Tutsi. There
was a brief peace treaty, but it broke down
and the group reformed as M23.
Rwanda and Uganda backed a rebellion in
1997 that saw the regime toppled and the
country renamed. A new leader, Kabila, was
put in place. A year later, that regime was
tested with another rebellion, again backed
by Rwanda and Uganda. Many African
countries stood with the government.
However, in 2001 the leader was
assassinated and his son was named head of
state.