The Democratic Republic of Congo has many treaties set up, including “Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child” and “Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” (UN Treaties) . The first entails prevention measures for banning recruitment of children under 18. This is also the same in the United States of America. The second entails the promotion of rights for people with disabilities. These are two of the most common and replicated treaties across the world, providing basic needs for humans. 
Continuing on with treaties and trade agreements, The DRC has bilateral trade agreements with over 50 countries and belongs to several international and regional trade organizations, including: the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (ECGLC), the Organization for harmonization of the business law in Africa (OHADA), and the East African Community (EAC)” (Trade Agreements). As seen in this large list and the 50 countries in which the DRC has trade agreements, there is an apparent popularity and extension to most of the world. As mentioned in the previous blog post, the Eastern and whole Democratic Republic of Congo has many important materials and natural goods that create profit for many different countries. The DRC is still a developing country and these treaties and trade agreements help support the economy.
Monthly Archives: October 2023
Ethiopia: Reinstitution of Food Aid
Ethiopians and refugees that rely on food aid from the United Nations World Food Program have been struggling for approximately five months, due to the pause of resources being sent to Ethiopia. This halt occurred because of the ongoing theft of rations that were being sold to markets and commercial mills. Ever since the civil war that lasted two years and relentless drought, more than 20 million people have needed food assistance in Ethiopia (1). There was a seven-year support package that was supposed to be sent in 2021, however, conflict with Tigray and thievery deferred it. Without aid, it is causing devastating consequences; many civilians are dying of hunger. As an attempt to reduce theft, the World Food Program will distribute wheat to 100,000 people in specific districts in northern Ethiopia to ensure control for delivering food aid (2). The responsibility of disbursing food aid now belongs to humanitarian groups, rather than the Ethiopian government, which was linked to the schemes of stealing. The aid package is planned to support the development of Ethiopia by promoting democratic governing and reconstruction/assistance for citizens. The hope is that this will help to alleviate the suffering of the Ethiopian people and create a brighter future for the country.
US food assistance includes the distribution of wheat to Ethiopia.
Advancements in Tanzania
Ikulu, Tanzania.
Samia Suluhu Hassan– the country’s first female president, has been both praised and ridiculed for the new sense of political tolerance she is bringing into her country. In March of 2023, she spoke at an event for International Womens Day, quoted saying, “The opposition is lucky that it is a woman president in charge because if a misunderstanding occurs, I will stand for peace and make the men settle their egos,”(DW). This statement caused the venue to erupt with cheers, singing, and dancing. The group who organized the event, Women’s Charter, has tasked Hassan with the responsibility to address the health of women, specifically concerning the high mortality rate in maternal and infant deaths. Many people holding political roles have admitted catching themselves underestimating Hassan, as a Muslim woman who wears a Hijab. Women in power in Tanzania is greater than ever, with now 9 out of 25 ministries in the cabinet (35%) headed by women. Another common factor in her appointees is their age. Young women have been tackling non-traditional roles and have been exceptionally successful. Among the 28 judges recently appointed by Hassan, 13 of them were women. Uganda’s womens rights activist Stella Nyanzi said, “I celebrate President Samia Suluhu Hassan because she has echoed the importance of giving Women governance. She is not perfect, but she is doing a good job.”
The leadership roles and political advancements in Tanzania made by women create excitement for people all over the world, inciting a new hope for what is to come.
Fear For Freedom in the DRC
The DRC has been in conflict since the 1990s, including debates on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and media. People across their country faced arrest, possibly being beaten, and sometimes prosecuted. Journalists who criticized government policies faced threats and harassment and feared for their lives. Human rights defenders faced intimation, arrest without cause, and threats. Since 1996, conflict in the Eastern DRC has led to almost six million deaths. Due to the excessive amount of natural resources and sought-after materials, there has been a constant debate as to whom the resources belong. “DRC is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of the metals and rare earth minerals that are used in the production of advanced electronics” (GCT). Armed groups within the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have become more incentivized to join the Congolese conflict. Due to the weak government in the DRC and the invasion of criminal armed groups, Congolese civilians have experienced widespread rape and sexual violence, extreme poverty, and human rights violations. There is a constant fear among those who call the DRC their home and live in a battleground. M23, abbreviated from the March 23 Movement, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, claims to try and defend the interests of minorities in the EDRC, including the Congolese Tutsi and Kinyarwanda. However, their rebels resurfaced and attacked Congolese troops, creating more civil unrest. “In 2023, DRC is home to an estimated 5.7 million internally displaced people in urgent need of more than 2 billion dollars of medical and other aid” (GCT).
Simply put, the quality of life is detrimental to health, human rights, and freedom of speech. The beautiful country’s inhabitants fear for their lives every day. The average age of death in the DRC is 59 years old while the United States of America’s is 77 years old. This is not only caused by civil unrest in the streets, but also the stress and fear in the DRC.
Council on Foreign Relations. (n.d.). Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo | global conflict tracker. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congo
Presenting Shreeya Shrestha!
Hi, I’m Shreeya! I’m a first-year psychology student from West Linn, Oregon. I enjoy swimming, bird-watching, playing piano, and music in general. I’m interested in learning about various cultures all over the world and hopefully sharing my own culture from Nepal with everyone! With the exposure I have to some international countries, I hope to learn and experience more with those related topics.
Meet Lily Fehrenbacher!
Hey! Welcome to our blog. My name is Lily Fehrenbacher and I am from Corvallis, Oregon. I am a Human Physiology major and a Spanish minor, with plans to become a nurse. I love to travel, camp, hike, and be outdoors. Through this Academic Residential Community, I hope to make connections with like-minded people, learn about global issues, makeplans to study abroad, and explore new ideas surrounding culture and language.
Introducing Sierra Hawes!
Hi everyone! My name is Sierra Hawes, and I am a freshman at the U of Oregon. I am originally from Bellingham, Washington, a mid-sized town near the border of Canada. Currently, I am majoring in Education Foundations with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. When thinking of a topic for this blog, I considered my recent travels across a few countries in Europe and the UK and reflected on the tourism in the cities and towns I visited. I noticed many variants of the impacts in those locations and want to do a deeper dive into the themes of tourism. 