The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country in great turmoil, and the violence there has led some to describe it as the “First African World War.” The International Rescue Committee (IRC) estimates that since 1998, 5.4 million people have been killed and 500,000 women raped, with rape being used as a weapon in governmental and ethnic conflicts. The nation is rich in minerals, timber, and other natural resources, but its history is filled with military and governmental upheaval. The second-largest African nation in area and with a population of 79.2 million, the DRC might wield great influence were it not for the extensive corruption and ethnic conflicts that have taken place since it became an independent nation.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo ...