But that doesn't mean that the DCR isn't still mired in a terrible humanitarian crisis. In January, 2008 the NEW YORK TIMES also reported that the Congo's death rate has remained unchanged since the war ended. "[It is] estimated that 45,000 people continue to die every month, about the same pace as in 2004." Today the Congo still hosts the largest UN peacekeeping mission.

Renowned Photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale has now spent eight years covering the brutal conflict within the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the work was published in his book ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF DARKNESS.

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Photos by Marcus Bleasdale. Used by permission.

Leopold's colonizing ventures were brutal. Historians estimate that millions of Congolese perished under harsh laws and brutal work regimes. The horror of life in the Congo interior was retold in Joseph Conrad's 1902 novella, HEART OF DARKNESS. Mark Twain added to the literary furor over Leopold's regime with his 1905 satirical pamphlet KING LEOPOLD'S LAMENT.

If I had them by the throat! [Hastily kisses the crucifix, and mumbles] In these twenty years I have spent millions to keep the press of the two hemispheres quiet, and still these leaks keep on occurring. I have spent other millions on religion and art, and what do I get for it? Nothing. Not a compliment. These generosities are studiedly ignored, in print. In print I get nothing but slanders -- and slanders again -- and still slanders, and slanders on top of slanders! Grant them true, what of it? They are slanders all the same when uttered against a king.

Mobutu, who seized complete power in 1965, became internationally famous under the name of Mobutu Sese Seko and also renamed the country Zaire. For decades the country was an important ally of the United States in operations against neighboring Angola, backed by the Soviets.

Mobutu's Zaire ranked high on international indices of corruption. Conflict broke out in 1997 as the Rwandan conflict spilled over the border in a search for Hutu fighters and anti-Mobutu rebels ousted his government. Laurent Kabila was named president and the country renamed again as Democratic Republic of Congo. The war, however continued on for five years between government forces who were supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe and rebels supported by Uganda and Rwanda. In 2001 Laurent Kabila was assassinated and replaced by his son Joseph. Joseph Kabila was elected in 2006 in the first democratic election in decades.

As BILL MOYERS JOURNAL reports, the DCR is still in turmoil. As noted above, in January 2008 the government and rebel militia signed a peace pact to end conflict in the eastern part of the country. However, reports from Doctors Without Borders document renewed fighting in those areas. And, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, The Democratic Republic of Congo has the worst record of sexual violence in the world. On March 31, 2008, the UN Security Council lifted arms embargo on DRC government. Arms bans are still imposed on the other parties to the conflict. On April 3, 2008 UN agencies of UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA signed a new five year program action plan for the country, for the years 2008 to 2012.

Published on April 4, 2008.