Nonetheless, the DR Congo continues to suffer from what the United Nations calls “the world’s deadliest emergency” and faces massive obstacles to its reconstruction:

• More than 4 million Congolese have died since 1998 as a result of the war. Although “Africa's first World War” officially ended in 2003, recent studies show that more than 1,000 people continue to die each day; almost half of these are children under the age of five. Most of these deaths are due to disease and malnutrition and are easily preventable.
• Rebel groups, militias, and oftentimes the underpaid and poorly-trained Congolese armed forces continue to kill, torture, rape, enslave, loot, and harass populations. Sexual violence in the DR Congo remains a daily threat for women and girls living in war-affected areas. Nationwide, the justice and security instruments remain largely dysfunctional and corrupt.
• Vast quantities of mineral wealth are smuggled and exported from the DR Congo every year without benefit to the Congolese people. The UN has accused all nations involved in the conflict of using the war as a cover for this looting. Networks of armed groups, elites, corporations, governments and Congolese civil and military officials control and pilfer diamonds, gold, cobalt, tin, copper and other natural resources. We benefit daily from the use of the DR Congo’s looted riches such as coltan, a vital component of our computers, cell phones, and home gaming systems.

The DR Congo government must establish and maintain peace throughout all its provinces. It also must restore basic services, help millions of people return safely home and resume their livelihoods, set up efficient and trusted security and judiciary institutions, and organize economic usage of natural resources for the benefit of the Congolese. The people of the DR Congo must be empowered to hold their government accountable. The international community must provide adequate and sustained support for these efforts in order to save lives, keep people safe, and end economic exploitation.

As humanitarian, human rights, environmental and faith-based organizations, students, Congolese, and grassroots movements, we come together to advocate for the DR Congo and urge increased local and international response, beginning with our own communities and institutions.