Letter to the Editor, The Guardian Weekly, 19th October 2007

Ruairidh Nicoll’s report of the massacre in Shabunda (Congo’s hidden massacre, September 21) is yet another example of the hardships the people of Congo have had to endure in recent years.

Instead of using its coal, gold, silver, copper, iron ore and gemstones to help build a stable economy, Congo’s riches have been ravaged by its neighbours and the country has been left in a state of dire poverty.

While the hardships of the Congolese are horrendous, what is worse is that the international community is not giving the Congo the attention it deserves.  What could be considered the greatest tragedy the world has seen in the past five decades has been disregarded as just another chapter of Africa’s dark history. 

While the international community’s attention has drifted on to other matters, many regions of the Congo are still without proper healthcare, a clean water supply or educational facilities.  The NGO I work for, GOAL, has been trying to bring these necessities to DRC since 1994 and remains committed to helping the Congolese build a better life.  Let’s just hope there is enough political will for this kind of development to continue.

John O’Shea
GOAL London,
UK