Congo

List of Congo articles

A silhouette is shown from the back, looking on at a fire.
A silhouette is shown from the back, looking on at a fire.

Why the World’s Deadliest Wars Go Unreported

Too much news is routed through London and New York. The capitals of the global south need to step up.

Houses are shown on the edge of deep gouges in the land.
Houses are shown on the edge of deep gouges in the land.

U.S. Apathy Paved the Way for China in Africa

Despite a strong foothold during the Cold War, Washington has since fumbled on the continent.

Major Gen. Jeff Nyagah, the East African Community (EAC) force commander, talks to reporters upon his arrival at EAC headquarters during a press conference in Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Nov. 16.
Major Gen. Jeff Nyagah, the East African Community (EAC) force commander, talks to reporters upon his arrival at EAC headquarters during a press conference in Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Nov. 16.

Can African-Led Diplomacy Bring Peace in Congo?

After a surprise peace deal in Ethiopia, there is hope for progress in talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula give a press conference at Cité de l’OUA (Organisation of African Unity) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Aug. 9.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula give a press conference at Cité de l’OUA (Organisation of African Unity) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Aug. 9.

Can Blinken Bring Peace in Eastern Congo?

The U.S. secretary of state is urging Kigali, Kinshasa, and others to stop backing militias in the region—but a lasting peace deal remains elusive.

A Congolese army tank heads towards the front line near Kibumba in the area surrounding the North Kivu city of Goma on May 25 during clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.
A Congolese army tank heads towards the front line near Kibumba in the area surrounding the North Kivu city of Goma on May 25 during clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.

The Rebirth of Congo’s Rebellion

The M23 rebel group is back, threatening to take much of the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and sparking wider regional tensions.

A digger descends into a copper and cobalt mine in Kawama, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on June 8, 2016.
A digger descends into a copper and cobalt mine in Kawama, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on June 8, 2016.

Green Energy’s Dirty Secret: Its Hunger for African Resources

The scramble for battery metals threatens to replicate one of the most destructive dynamics in global economic history.

Belgium’s King Philippe shakes hands with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi as he hands over a ceremonial mask during a ceremony at the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Kinshasa on June 8.
Belgium’s King Philippe shakes hands with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi as he hands over a ceremonial mask during a ceremony at the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Kinshasa on June 8.

Belgium Offers Regret—but No Reparations—to Congo

King Philippe stopped short of apologizing for colonial-era atrocities, angering the Congolese opposition and diaspora.

adf-congo-uganda
adf-congo-uganda

Uganda and Congo Are at War With the Islamic State

Denying the links between the Allied Democratic Forces and militant Islamists will endanger civilians.

Tree stumps after 850 hectares of forests were felled to plant oil palms in the heart of the Congo Basin forest near Kisangani in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sept. 25, 2019.
Tree stumps after 850 hectares of forests were felled to plant oil palms in the heart of the Congo Basin forest near Kisangani in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sept. 25, 2019.

An Empty Pledge to Protect Rainforests

The COP26 deforestation commitment is disingenuous—and could harm the Congo Basin.

Truck at a roadblock in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Truck at a roadblock in Democratic Republic of the Congo

It’s the Roads, Stupid

Armed checkpoints along key trade routes—not natural resources—are the key to financing rebel groups and insurgencies around the world.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame
Rwandan President Paul Kagame

The Dark Side of Rwanda’s Rebirth

A new book explores the historical roots and contemporary fallout of Paul Kagame’s aggressive foreign policy.

An electoral agent arranges ballots.
An electoral agent arranges ballots.

Why Did Washington Let a Stolen Election Stand in the Congo?

If the Biden administration wants to advance democracy around the world, it needs to fix U.S. diplomacy first.

Newly released child soldiers stand with rifles during their release ceremony in Yambio, South Sudan, on February 7, 2018.
Newly released child soldiers stand with rifles during their release ceremony in Yambio, South Sudan, on February 7, 2018.

The U.N. Secretary-General Is Letting Powerful Countries Get Away With Killing Kids

By removing Saudi Arabia and other serial violators of children’s human rights from the annual list of shame, António Guterres is weakening one of the U.N.’s most effective accountability mechanisms.

State Department DRC Flag
State Department DRC Flag

Decolonize the State Department

As U.S. policymakers grapple with systemic racism, it’s time to start tapping the expertise of diasporas.

A child and a woman break rocks extracted from a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
A child and a woman break rocks extracted from a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Green Energy’s Dirty Side Effects

The global transition to renewables could lead to human rights abuses and risks exacerbating inequalities between the West and the developing world.

A document produced during the investigation into U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold's death.
A document produced during the investigation into U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold's death.

How Race Hampered the Investigation Into Dag Hammarskjold’s Death

Testimony of African eyewitnesses to the U.N. secretary-general’s death was dismissed because of their lack of education and perceived susceptibility to political manipulation.

International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (R) speaks with a colleague during the closing statements of the trial of former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda in The Hague on Aug. 28, 2018.
International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (R) speaks with a colleague during the closing statements of the trial of former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda in The Hague on Aug. 28, 2018.

Don’t Give Up on the ICC

The International Criminal Court has many flaws, but abandoning it now would give free rein to war criminals and open the door to impunity.

Load 10 More Articles
Loading graphics

Welcome to a world of insight.

Make the most of FP.

Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Explore the benefits included in your subscription.

Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below.

Choose a few newsletters that interest you. Get more insight in your inbox.

Here are some we think you might like. Update your newsletter preferences.

  • World Brief thumbnail
  • Africa Brief thumbnail
  • Latin America Brief thumbnail
  • China Brief thumbnail
  • South Asia Brief thumbnail
  • Situation Report thumbnail

Keep up with the world without stopping yours. Keep up with the world without stopping yours.

Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere.

Download on the App Store
  • Read the magazine
  • Save articles (and read offline)
  • Customize your feed
  • Listen to FP podcasts
Download on the Apple App Store
Download on the Google Play Store

Analyze the world’s biggest events. Analyze the world’s biggest events.

Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with