Tristan McConnellJanuary 7, 2013 07:00

VITSHUMBI, Democratic Republic of Congo — Vitshumbi is a typical contemporary Congolese town: there is no running water, no electricity and no paved roads. At first glance, it might seem that Vitshumbi has been stuck in reverse since the end of colonialism. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Will the oil curse come to Congo? (VIDEO)

Ben CroweJanuary 7, 2013 07:00

Congolese living in the Virunga National Park worry oil speculators have little interest in supporting locals.

In Congo: oil, guns and power (IN-DEPTH SERIES)

Kyle KimJanuary 3, 2013 15:22

Vicious rebel forces, a corrupt government and oil speculators are an explosive mix in eastern Congo. And they are all threatening Africa’s oldest national park.

Africa’s oldest park is under attack

Tristan McConnellJanuary 7, 2013 07:00

RUMANGABO, Democratic Republic of Congo — The task of protecting the gorillas of Virunga National Park might be the toughest job in conservation. A force of 270 rangers, a well-equipped paramilitary outfit trained over the years by British and Belgian Special Forces, patrols the 3,000-square mile expanse. These are no Yogi Bear-style Ranger Smiths. They carry AK-47s, belt-fed machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

The horrors of eastern Congo

Tristan McConnellJanuary 7, 2013 07:00

RUTSHURU, Democratic Republic of Congo — The figure in military fatigues and rubber boots stood on the rutted road, framed between green walls of tangled equatorial forest. He leveled his assault rifle at a small huddle of people kneeling in the mud next to their truck. Around them were their scattered, meager belongings: burlap sacks of grain, cooking pots and small suitcases of clothes.

Virunga National Park has a new enemy: Oil

Tristan McConnellJanuary 7, 2013 07:00

LAKE EDWARD, Democratic Republic of Congo — It is not just war threatening the future of Africa’s oldest and most diverse park. Oil is too.

UN Security Council slaps sanctions on Congo rebel groups

Alexander BesantJanuary 1, 2013 18:56

The United Nations Security Council has imposed tough sanctions on Congo's M23 rebel group along with a Rwanda-backed rebel group FDLR.

Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, Congo war criminal, freed by ICC

Talia RalphDecember 18, 2012 10:52

Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, a former Congolese militia leader, has been freed after the International Criminal Court acquitted him of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In Congo conflict, there are no good guys

Tristan McConnellNovember 26, 2012 14:08

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo — As politicians fail to resolve long-simmering conflicts in eastern Congo, civilians are again suffering. Both the M23 rebels and the Congo army stand accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Regional governments have been useless. And the United Nations has been ineffective. So what now?

Omekongo DibingaJune 23, 2012 07:08

Can art save the Congo?

Commentary: Congo is not just chaos and violence, many Congolese seek positive change through arts and sports.

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The Busara contemporary dance group in Goma rehearse a production about child soldiers at an arts center in the eastern city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 30, 2012. "The dance is about innocence," says Chiku Lwambo, who started the group with his twin brother three years ago. "Everything that we want to live, the freedom that everybody wants, it's scoffed at by someone." (Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — As a child growing up in Boston, Massachusetts, my eight brothers and sisters and I were bullied heavily because of our Congolese ancestry. We were beaten up, had rocks thrown at us, and one of my brothers was even shot in the eye with a metal BB gun.

Probably worse than the physical torment we received were the verbal insults we endured daily such as being called “African bush-boogies,” “African booty scratchers,” “monkeys,” and more. We were attacked by everyone: strangers, so-called friends, and even some of our teachers.