非洲風情：剛果民主共和國─民主倒退與國際制裁

剛果民主共和國在獨立前，曾經是比利時的領土。國王利奧波德二世殘暴地迫使當地民眾，種植橡膠牟取暴利，未有為當地帶來基礎建設和制度化管治。直到六十年代起，當地人才有權投票。在缺乏從政的經驗下，該國獨立後只能經歷短暫的民主洗禮。

盧蒙巴作為帶領獨立的國父，不但未能維繫黨內勢力，亦未能團結其他政黨治國。黨內以阿爾伯特・卡隆吉為首，形成另一股勢力。政敵莫伊茲・沖伯甚至以能源開採權，換取比利時軍隊支持加丹加省的獨立運動。結果國家陷入內戰，超過十萬人死亡。

由於聯合國剛果行動，未能解決當地的危機，迫使盧蒙巴投靠蘇聯。當時正值冷戰時期，西方陣營擔心共產勢力坐大，觸發中央情報局轉投支持蒙博托的軍事政變。在1965年，剛果民主共和國在美國默許下，開展長達三十二年的獨裁政權。

國內經濟積弱，觸發卡比拉聯同鄰國湧入的胡圖族，在首次剛果戰爭中，推翻蒙博托。可惜卡比拉與胡圖族民兵缺乏信任，引爆第二次剛果戰爭。烏干達和盧旺達支持其他叛軍，安哥拉、納米比亞和津巴布韋則支持政府。雙方謀求礦產而戰，逾五百萬人死亡。

隨著卡比拉被暗殺，及其兒子約瑟夫繼任，戰爭才趨向結束。聯合國和歐盟為國內選舉，提供資金和人力支援，並由剛果全國過渡委員會協調。在西方支持下，約瑟夫在選舉擊敗反對派。然而，西方拒絕長期補貼，間接放棄制裁手段。缺乏國際干預下，政府延續集權統治。

DRC - Democratic Backsliding and International Sanctions

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was once colonised by King Leopold II of Belgium. Locals were not allowed to vote until the 1950s. In the absence of democracy experience, the country suffered from a major setback after its independence.

The founding father Lumumba failed to maintain the unity of his Congolese National Movement. It was split by Albert Kalonji. His rival Moise Tshombe even declared the independence of Katanga, exchanged its natural resources with the Belgian troops.

DRC descended into a brutal civil war, which claimed 100,000+ lives. The UN Operation in the Congo disappointed him, leaving him no options but approaching the Soviet Union. Fear of communism encouraged the CIA to support a military coup by Mobutu Sésé Seko.

As a result, Mobutu kicked off his 32-year authoritarian regime. His brutal ruling was weakened by weak economics and falling donor support. Rebellion led by Laurent Kabila and Hutu militias defeated the ailing government in the 1997 First Congo War.

The absence of trust between the militias of Hutu and the Kabila regime escalated into the Second Congo War. Uganda and Rwanda supported a new rebellion. Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe supported the government mainly for the mineral reserves. 5 million+ died.

Kabila was assassinated, and succeeded by his son Joseph in 2003, marking the end of the prolonged war. Funding and manpower for the election was subsidized by the UN and EU, and were coordinated by the International Committee in Support of the Transition.

Under the Western support, Joseph secured enough ballots. Yet, the refusal of long term subsidy implied that donors would not prevent democratic backsliding. The regime therefore removed checks and balances progressively, without international intervention.

名稱：非洲民主：成功、失敗與政治改革的鬥爭 (暫譯) (Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform)

作者：Nic Cheeseman

年份：2015

出版地：美國

出版社：劍橋大學出版社

類別：非洲政治

評分：7/10

IMG: https://www.britannica.com/story/how-did-patrice-lumumba-die