In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a combination of factors—including a history of colonial repression, bad governance, a genocidal war in neighboring Rwanda, and abundant natural resources—created an environment ripe for conflict. The DRC was plundered rather than governed by longtime ruler Mobutu Sese Seko (1965-97). When Mobutu was finally deposed, the DRC ranked in the bottom third of countries on the Human Poverty Index (a precursor to the Human Development Index).32 In the years since Mobutu’s departure, the situation has deteriorated still further. Civil war has cost the lives of 3 million people, and millions more have been internally displaced or fled the country, creating instability in neighboring nations.33
Despite a large peacekeeping presence, sporadic violence continues to threaten the lives of tens of thousands of people in the DRC. Economic growth has been slow but positive since 2002, a welcome sign given the connections between conflict and growth rates. Yet enormous challenges remain. The country has the highest rate of hunger of any country in the world: Seventy percent of the population is undernourished.34 Violence against women, including rape, is pervasive. The maternal mortality rate has increased, a problem worsened by the inadequacy of the country’s extremely limited health infrastructure. Given these bleak statistics, it is little surprise that the DRC is ranked just nine spots from the bottom of the 2007 HDI.35 With the average cost of civil wars running $64 billion, according to Collier’s estimates, there are few resources left over to address the immense development challenges confronted by countries like the DRC.36
While the DRC struggles to end violence, countries like Liberia are working to consolidate peace and begin the process of rebuilding. Liberia emerged from conflict in 2003 after more than a decade of war. A mix of United Nations peacekeepers and financial support from international donors helped to solidify the peace in the country. In 2005, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected the first female president of Liberia (and the first in Africa). Liberia has a great deal of work ahead to forge a sustainable path to development. Liberians remain deeply mired in hunger and poverty. Thirty-nine percent of children are undernourished, and both child and maternal mortality rates remain exceptionally high.37
Just as Liberia begins to consolidate peace and make the difficult transition to development, the rise in food prices is creating urgent new problems for the country. In a letter to leaders of the G8, which includes the United States and other donor nations, World Bank President Robert Zoellick noted that in January 2008 alone, food prices in Liberia rose 28 percent. The rise in food prices has driven 200,000 more people into abject poverty; now 70 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty.38 The persistence of poverty threatens peace and stability in the country. What Liberia needs is flexible, steadfast support from international donors to help the country address its staggering challenges.
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32 Table 2: Human Development Index Trends (2007), United Nations Development Program.
33 Benjamin Coghlan et al. (2008), Mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An Ongoing Crisis, International Rescue Committee.
34 Prevalence of Undernourishment in Total Population (2006), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
35 Table 1: Human Development Report (2008), United Nations Development Program.
37 Humanitarian Action Report (2007), UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/har07/index_37594.htm.
38 Robert Zoellick (2008), Letter to the G8: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NEWS/Resources/zoellick-fukuda-070108.pdf.
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