Economist Podcasts Bloody and forgotten: Conflict in eastern Congo
Oct 6, 2022
John McDermott, The Economist's Africa correspondent, shares harrowing insights from the decade-long conflict in eastern Congo, shedding light on the staggering human toll and desperate need for global attention. Alok Jha, the science correspondent, discusses the hunt for innovative painkillers that avoid addiction, highlighting breakthroughs like VX548. Meanwhile, Erin Braun brings a whimsical twist with a dive into Fat Bear Week, a delightful celebration in Alaska where voters choose the chubbiest bear, fusing wildlife conservation with community fun.
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Cinema Bombing in Butembo
- A bomb exploded in a cinema in Butembo, eastern Congo, injuring children and teenagers.
- This highlights the intensifying violence in the region, displacing millions.
Historical Roots of Violence
- Eastern Congo has suffered from conflict for three decades, stemming from the disintegration of Mobutu's dictatorship and the Rwandan genocide.
- This instability created a power vacuum, leading to the Second Congo War and the rise of numerous competing militia groups.
Staged Security in Orumu
- President Tshikedi declared martial law, claiming improved security, but the reality on the ground is different.
- Despite military claims of safety, John McDermott's visit to Orumu revealed a staged portrayal, contradicted by local testimonies and rising armed group attacks.