A senior United Nations official says armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are deliberately inciting ethnic hatred to prolong the war. Caroline McAskie, the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated on Wednesday after visits to Congo and Burundi that the international community must act to calm the situation there, or a mass slaughter of horrific proportions could occur. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been embroiled in war and bloodshed since 1998, when Tutsi tribes in the east of the country revolted against the government. Other armed groups, including the Hutus, are also active in the region. In the latest news, the main allies of the Democratic Republic of Congo are gathering today for a meeting aimed at discussing the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Congo. Leaders from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo will participate in negotiations taking place in Kinshasa. Congolese officials say the focus of the talks is the plan for the complete withdrawal of foreign forces by the end of this year. Rwandan and Ugandan troops, who supported Congolese rebel groups during the four-year war, have exited the country. However, rebel groups and ethnic fighters are battling each other to fill the power vacuum in the eastern part of the country.
Prolonging the War in Eastern Congo - 2002-10-24
A UN official warns that armed groups in eastern Congo are inciting ethnic hatred to prolong the ongoing conflict, which has persisted since 1998. Key regional leaders are meeting to discuss the withdrawal of foreign troops, but local power struggles continue among various factions. This situation poses a risk of mass violence if not addressed by the international community.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A UN official warned that armed groups in eastern Congo are inciting ethnic hatred to prolong the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, regional leaders are meeting to discuss the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC amidst ongoing violence among local factions.
- The conflict in the DRC has been ongoing since 1998, primarily involving Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups.
- The meeting in Kinshasa aims to negotiate the complete withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of the year.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The DRC has faced continuous conflict since the late 1990s, primarily driven by ethnic tensions and power struggles among various groups.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%