Heart Of Darkness

The impact of the Belgian exploitation of the Congo region of Africa is blatantly obvious to this day. While there has been modernization there has been little change to the status quo. Peace, health, and security are rare commodities in these lands. “Lands” is perhaps the best way to describe the region because there have been a myriad of countries and regimes that have existed in them over the years, including some parts where no one really governs to this day. Tribes and warlords still hold much sway while European powers continue to meddle in the affairs of region. While the nations involved and the commodities they seek may have changed the game remains the same. However after seeing similar situations across the globe and over a hundred years since the last colonial forces left is it really fair to blame it all Leopold. At what point does jungle began to deserve the credit for what has and still goes on

Leopold’s rape of the Congo will forever scar the face of the continent. Perhaps the situation today is explained by the title of an article in Variety called “King Leopold’s Ghost”. Jealous of the other European countries’ colonies he snatched some of the last land left. Only instead of benefiting the nation it was used for his own personal wealth. As Andrew C A Jampoler said in “Journey into the Heart of Darkness”, “What Leopold really had in mind was a wholly owned proprietorship, one that would in time earn a reputation for barbaric cruelty through the enslavement, mutilation, and murder to millions of Africans, and trigger a global civil-rights protest.”

The reason the country was so ideal for Leopold’s exploitation because of the remote nature of the country and the narrow entry point from the sea. “he not only managed to control the Congo as his own private reserve, but waged a successful public relations campaign to convince the world that his African project was a humanitarian, anti-slavery enterprise.” It was effective for many years until the actions and stories of journalists and writers brought the “horror” to light, foremost among them Joseph Conrad.

Some actions and events the have taken place in the region defy logic. Over the centuries colonizers and mercenaries who have been equally puzzled use the acronym T.I.A., This is Africa, to explain things away. Sadly there are many similar parallels between African countries. Like many nations the Congo was eager to throw off the signs of white oppression, to much so in this case. Many white farms were taken over and then left to waste or under inadequate management. This lead to huge drops in production and therefore famine. Also, there seems there seems to be a ripple effect in Africa. When the Rwandan genocide of Tutsis by the Hutu many of the war criminals fled to the DRC. Along with the local members of the tribe they played a large role in the war. Even this distinction between Hutu and Tutsi is made up by the colonial powers however. The taller and more “noble” looking natives, the Tutsi, were selected to help the Dutch and French run their colonies. This distinction earned them the enmity of the other groups and retribution was widespread and unparalleled in ferocity. As made famous in the movie Hotel Rwanda the code to start the massacre was “cut down the tall trees”. This is how the Tutsi paid for their ancestors’ selection by the Europeans.

Despite the massive problems that afflict the Congo region there is a very apathetic world view towards the nations. Leopold’s strategy of using it remote location in the center of the “Dark Continent” is still effective. Also after seeing so many horror stories about Africa the public and the media tend to have their eyes glaze over and then brush the story under the rug. Besides coverage by a few smaller papers the tragedy in the Congo is often over looked in favor of more popular causes like Darfur. Thankfully the UN has had the reverse reaction to the conflict. After the embarrassment if their failure to stop the genocide in Rwanda they acted quickly, by UN standards, to send a force there. The unusual nature of the force lies in that “the UN Security Council voted to authorize an international fighting force - not just passive peacekeepers вЂ" in the Congo…led by France, not the US”3. France especially feels the need to act because they have more of an obligation to Africa than most countries and due to their heartless approach to Rwanda. This and their actions in Chad indicate an new and more effective. If self serving policy. The UN continues to actively engage in the fight to this day.

Disease

Women’s role in the country is not much more significant or improved from the times of Conrad’s book. Just as Kurtz’s intended and his mistress play auxiliary roles in the book women hold little power in the modern day Congo.

-rampant spread of aids often due to rape by soldiers. 5% and rising.

Colonial exploitation

Huge amounts of natural resources including oil

-lacks infrastructure

-companies are intimidated by distance to ocean and instability.

-given generous terms

-now many African leaders do the same the whites used to

-whether this speaks about mankind or the after effects of colonialism is a question Conrad would appreciate.

Wildlife

-few remnants

-the European tradition of

-the last home of the mountain gorillas in Virunga national park has the potential to be a

huge tourist attraction.

-instead it is being used as hideout for rebels

-they kill endangered species for sale on the black market

-park protected by hundreds of armed guards who are paid by wildlife organizations

-according to the WWF over a hundred guards have been killed in action over the last ten years and “The northern border of the park is often invaded by Uganda rebels, and Rwandan rebels have established bases in the southern part near Lake Edward 5”