SMCC has long enrolled students from various backgrounds; this includes individuals with families in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), or who are from the DRC themselves, who watch the crisis in their home country unfold from the coast of Maine.

The crisis in the Congo is an incredibly complicated, longstanding conflict characterized by government instability, civil violence, and widespread suffering. Armed groups, corrupt legislation, and exploitative countries are just a few reasons for the decades of conflict and civilian displacement. The people of the Congo are regularly subjected to violence and human right violations and are in need of urgent assistance. The Beacon sat down with Exaucee “Ex” Badose, a Communications & New Media major here at SMCC from the DRC herself, who shared her perspective: 

The Beacon: Are your parents still in the DRC? 

Ex: I was born in the DRC, and my parents are in the DRC now. 

The Beacon: In your own words – and this is obviously a complicated topic – what is currently happening in the Congo? What’s the main conflict or point of interest? 

Ex: I will try to share what I know the best I can. The conflict in Congo has been happening for years now; around 6 million people have lost their lives due to the war. The main cause of the war, as I understand it, is about the minerals that are found in the East side of the Congo. Minerals like cobalt, coltan, and others have been a source of exploitation of children in the East side of the Congo for years. Big tech companies from all over the world use the cobalt and coltan produced in the Congo to create the batteries that go in computers. The children doing the work barely get paid anything. Neighboring countries such as Rwanda are financed by Western countries to attack and invade the East of the Congo, to give them easy access to the minerals. 

The Beacon: How are your parents holding up? Are they alright? 

Ex: My parents are doing okay. They, and the rest of the population, hope for peace one day. 

The Beacon: Where do you personally get information about what’s going on in the Congo?

Ex: I get information on what is going on through family members and friends who are in the Congo. Whenever I can, I try to ask for details and updates. Some political decisions happen very quickly sometimes, and make it hard for people abroad to always be up to date. But some things have definitely not changed for years. 

The Beacon: How would you say that the U.S. is playing a role in the crisis?

Ex: I think that the U.S, and all the other countries causing the war, need to leave the Congo alone.

The Beacon: How educated or aware do you feel American citizens are when it comes to this crisis? How could they become more aware? 

Ex: Most American citizens do not know about this crisis. The best way for students to raise awareness about this situation is to openly speak about it. Just looking up the war in Congo on Google and YouTube will give people a lot of information.

Ex’s comment about the U.S. “leaving the Congo alone” refers to the involvement of Western countries with Congolese affairs, predominantly the funding and political support of repressive regimes in exchange for mineral extraction, as Ex had described, as well as past military interventions that have been deemed instigating rather than peace-enforcing. More detailed information can be found online: various articles from Al Jazeera, for example, covers the topic of mineral exploitation in the Congo extensively. 

As mentioned, Ex gets most of her Congo-related news from family members and friends who are currently in the Congo. Some sources that SMCC students could use for reliable Congo updates would include United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Human Rights Watch, and Al Jazeera, all who frequently cover on-the-ground events in the DRC.

The crisis in the DRC remains a pressing issue that demands immediate international attention and support. Insights from SMCC students like Ex provide a personal perspective on the hardships faced by the people of the DRC and the need for peace and stability in the region.

For more information about the crisis, see Al Jazeera’s article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/a-guide-to-the-decades-long-conflict-in-dr-congo.