Abstract
We have right now one of the most exciting times in terms of communication
that our world has ever seen. We have incredible technology, incredible
instruments, and the ability to address, inform and learn through technology. We
have smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, and cameras that share information
around the world within seconds. this ability to communicate is extraordinary but
there is a Faustian bargain at play here because all of these instruments that allow
you to do what you do and allow me to create and continue my work come with a
price and that price is being paid by the people in eastern regions of the Democratic
Republic of the Cong. Where there is an ongoing confit to access the natural
resources that we use every day in our smartphones, tablets, cameras, and in our
cars. This is a significant problem that we need to solve together.”
(Marcus Bleasdale 2014)
The Design Project (DP) aims to create awareness of the intentionally overlooked
ongoing conflict in Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera, 2023) Through
acts of documenting the living memory of a people and through archive creation of
the subject of the trauma landscape and its inhabitants. The DP hopes to add to an
ongoing conversation about the destructive nature of mineral resource extraction in
Democratic Republic of the Congo and its consequences on local communities from
the perspective of a displaced student and family due to this ongoing conflict.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo second largest country in Africa. (Allen, 2006),
is the source of 70% of the world’s cobalt used by some of the world’s largest tech
companies (Mallory, 2023), and yet there are more people displaced in the Congo –
almost six million – than anywhere else in the world, except for Syria. (Forever War
2022)
The issue of conflicts over minerals in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is
seldom discussed outside of academic research. As a foreign student in South Africa,
I rarely come across conversations or information regarding the conflict in the DRC.
However, it is striking that a significant portion of the global population benefits from
electronic devices that are manufactured using minerals extracted from conflict zones
in the Democratic Republic of thr Congo. (Barume et al., 2016)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to be plagued by severe human
rights violations, which include sexual violence, perpetrated by armed groups profiting
from the exploitation of “conflict minerals.” In order to gather information, the research
led by Shirambere Philippe Tunamsifu interviewed a total of 32 individuals with valuable
insights as key informants. Additionally, two group discussions were conducted
in regions impacted by the armed conflicts. The findings revealed a significant
recommendation, suggesting that the State should publicly apologize for its inability
to safeguard the civilian population. Furthermore, it was proposed that a special commemorative
day should be established, serving as an occasion to unite both victims
and alleged perpetrators.
Additionally, official monuments and memorials should be constructed in the areas
most profoundly affected by the conflicts. As a symbolic form of collective
reparation, cost-effective monuments, as well as appropriately named schools,
hospitals, and public markets, should be built to commemorate the abuses that
took place. Despite these recommendations, no action has been taken by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo government (Tunamsifu, 2018).
Conflict-related incidents have been steadily increasing since 2017 (Office [Sa]).
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), known as the Commission de
Vérité et de la Réconciliation in French, was established as a response to the
atrocities committed during the war in Democratic Republic of the Congo. It operated
from July 2003 to February 2007 with the aim of investigating the conflict
and fostering national unity.
The commission was a result of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD) held in Pretoria,
South Africa, in 2002. As per Resolution No. DIC/CPR/05 of the ICD, it was
recommended that the crimes under international law committed since June 30,
1960, as well as those committed during the armed conflicts of 1996 and 1998
that remained unpunished, be addressed through the establishment of an ad hoc
criminal court.
(Tunamsifu 2015)
Drawing inspiration from the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s
(TRC) efforts to create spaces for remembrance and healing, places where
people could gather to remember and celebrate the struggle against Apartheid
(Hlekiso, C 2018).
My design proposal (DP) seeks to examine how the DRC has dealt with the challenges
and opportunities of memorialization.
Memorialization is commonly understood as the process of preserving memories
of people and historical events (Barsalou & Baxter, 2007).
However, this definition fails to encompass significant ongoing events, such as
the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which began in 1996 and
continues today, even often dubbed as the “forever war”/ “Africa’s forever war”
(Show, 6856), this DP will argue that this definition should not be strictly considered
for past events only.
The continuous loss of life and land in this ongoing struggle is the outcome of a
series of past incidents, which must be remembered and acknowledged without
indefinite postponement. In order to provide healing and solace to individuals
affected by various forms of loss, this project advocates for the inclusion of both
past and present events in the practice of memorialization