In the 1960s, the Democratic Republic of the Congo won freedom from Belgian colonial oppression, ushering in an era of national independence. Yet this vast, mineral-rich country, roughly the size of Western Europe, did not go on to prosper. Starting in 1996, two wars broke out in succession, drawing in nine African nations. Millions died, countless people were displaced, and as fighting raged across thousands of miles, horrific massacres were committed again and again: pregnant women were disemboweled alive, civilians buried en masse, and children as young as five or six sexually assaulted...
Yet this catastrophe, known as the “African World War,” has attracted little attention abroad. Its origins are often simplistically blamed on backwardness, moral decay, or the shameless greed of Western powers. But is that really the truth?
Jason Stearns devoted ten years to this work, traveling deep into Africa and interviewing power brokers behind the Congolese conflict as well as survivors of massacres. From a tangle of events, he draws out countless details to restore the true face of this history and challenge the world’s stereotypes about the Congo and Central Africa. Here, a person might be both a refugee fleeing the fighting and a perpetrator of atrocities, might sincerely aspire to save the country and its people while allowing an army to burn, kill, and loot. There is no clear line between good and evil here, only human nature in all its complexity, inscrutability, and unpredictability.
This book reminded me of my friend who works in Africa and he told me about some situations there. This book truly shows the cruelty and complexity of the Congo war and gave me a deeper understanding of Africa. The detailed descriptions in the book are very vivid, making me feel like I am on that chaotic battlefield. I think everyone should read this book to learn about the other side of the world.