Congo, Democratic Republic of the

A vast country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest in Africa. The country’s post-independence history has been scarred by a bloody conflict which peaked between 1998 and 2003, though armed groups continue to operate with impunity in the east of the country. The DRC has an appalling human rights record, replete with pervasive arbitrary executions, rape, torture at the hands of the army, police, intelligence services as well as non-state armed groups.