Wars located in Africa and The

Middle East in the 20th century

By :Abdulrahman, Antonio, Nitya,
Simran, Mia and Yasmeen
Draw or type something you already know about today’s topic:
The Gulf War
(Aug 2, 1990 – Feb 28, 1991)
Simran, Nitya, Antonio
Causes of the Gulf War- Simran
The Gulf War, also called the Persian Gulf War, was a conflict triggered by
Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait was a build up of multiple reasons. Some were:
- Iraq was in debt from the Iran-Iraq war, which ended in 1988.
Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s president at the time, saw decreasing the
production of oil as the easiest way out. This would increase prices,
and in turn increase revenue for Iraq to be able to pay back their
debts.
- Additionally, Iraq also needed to increase their exports in order to
improve their trade deficit. However, in order to do this, they needed
direct access to the Persian Gulf, which was occupied by Kuwait.
- Another reason for conflict was Saddam Hussein’s strong dislike
towards Shia muslims.
The combination of these reasons were good enough for Hussein to invade
Kuwait. Once Iraq invaded, Kuwait immediately sought help from the rest of
the leading nations in the world. These nations came together to help and
were known as the Coalition Forces. The Coalition forces’ military build up
was known as ‘Operation Desert Shield’. Saddam Hussein also defied the
United Nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait. Due to
this, the Gulf War began with a massive US-led air force.
 How it was fought -A
The Gulf War introduced American troops into Iraqi and A SCUD
Kuwaiti soil, along with their weaponry. The initial attack transporter
was christened “Operation Desert shield” by, then
president, George W. Bush, and it was an attempt to rid
Kuwait of Iraqi forces which were led by Saddam Hussein.
Bombs were the primary weapon in The Gulf War as the
United States had developed a new and devastating weapon
which was the “Smart bomb” a bomb which, unlike others,
incredibly reduced the impact on civilians and civilian life.
A smart bomb is a missile which is guided with laser beams
or radio signals and were more accurate than previous
bombs due to the fact that they were dropped out of planes
in masses to increase the chances of hitting one target, Patriot
killing the innocents in masses. Iraq attempted to use missiles
weapons such as SCUD missiles against Israel to instigate
a holy war but the United States implemented the use of
Patriot missiles, a surface-to-air weapon which destroyed
Iraq’s missiles before they could reach their targets. The
initial attacks began with with a devastating aerial bombing
on the 16th of January 1991 by the United States which
lasted for 42 consecutive days and nights. The attack is
estimated to have used circa 88,500 tonnes of bombs.
 How it was fought - Antonio
The Iraqi forces used Kuwait’s main income (crude oil) as a means of defeating and crippling the American and
allied forces, this was achieved through the burning of oil wells which exploded or set alight very quickly. This
technique was basically used as a form of detonating extremely explosive bombs with roots underground that
spanned across miles. Once ignited, the wells were alight for almost 10 months, until Kuwait sent private
contracted companies to extinguish the flames. At that point, Kuwait had lost about 5 million barrels daily. If one
barrel contains 159 liters, 159x5,000,000 would amount to 795,000,000 liters of crude oil per day. There are 304
days in 10 months, it can therefore be calculated that a staggering 241,680,000,000 liters of crude oil were
consumed. The smoke was also used as a means of creating respiratory
problems for soldiers who didn’t have gas masks on, crippling many
soldiers.

A burning oil field

Smoke trails of the

burning oil
 How peace was established
On April 6th, 1991 Persian War was put to an end by the UN’s Security Council resolution
686. The resolution stated that the Persian War will end provided
- Sanctions will be set on Iraq
- Iraq will be stripped of all weapons of mass destruction
- Hostile actions such as missile attacks will be ceased
- Iraq will pay for the all damages in Kuwait.
- Iraq will return all stolen property from Kuwait
While unsatisfied with the terms, the treaty was finally accepted by Iraq. Yet, even after
the resolution was signed, the United States continued to put pressure on Iraq through the
United Nations. They wanted to ensure that they would be stripped of all chemical and
biological weapons and that the trade embargo imposed previously (through resolution 661)
remained. Thus, another resolution was created.This resolution (687) called for a permanent
ceasefire agreement. It gave the United Nations Special Commission permission to inspect
Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons capabilities.
How well do you understand what we just covered?
Drag your dot to show if you’re ready to move on:
Belgium In Congo
Mia, Yasmeen, Abdulrahman
 Causes-Mia
The Congo Civil War, also denoted as the Congo crisis had a multitude of causes ranging from
short to long term periods. Belgian Congo, French Congo Belge, former colony in Africa, ruled
by Belgium existed from 1908 until 1960.
During the time period of Belgium’s colonisation of the Congo many thing occurred which would
motivate a civil uprise which did occur in the years of 1960-65.
- Thirty Two Congolese towns were destroyed through means of aggression torture and
violence.
- When King Leopold got the legal right to take control of the Congo, he took two thirds
of the country and enslaved the entirety of the Congo, demeaning the population to
performing deadly rubber extractions.
- “Workers” were given extremely harsh quotas and were threatened to perform to fulfill
them with the chance of murder and torture facing them if otherwise, and weren’t paid.
- If the workers fell short by a small amount, they would get 25 lashes with a whip. In
harsher cases, they might get 100.
- Millions died of disease, famine and murder.
- Villages were burned to the ground.
- Belgian soldiers cannibalised workers.
- King Leopold II didn’t enter the Congo as an invading army; he went in as a charity.
International African Association. He profited from the extortion of Congo natives and
the destruction of their country. (Oliver, Mark.)
 Causes-Mia
- The official Belgian attitude was paternalism: Africans were to be
cared for and trained as if they were children. They had no role in
legislation, but traditional rulers were used as agents to collect taxes
and recruit labour; uncooperative rulers were deposed.
- This attitude sparked an outrage within the African population as it
belittled them and made them inferior to their colonisers.
- Anti-European religious groups rose in the 1920’s such as the
Kimbanguism and the Kitwala.
- The first nationwide Congolese political party, the Congo National
Movement, was launched in 1958 by Patrice Lumumba and other
Congolese leaders.
- In January 1959, riots broke out in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa)
after a rally was held calling for the independence of the Congo.
- Violent altercations between Belgian forces and the Congolese also
occurred later that year, and Belgium, which previously maintained
that independence for the Congo would not be possible in the
immediate future, suddenly capitulated and began making
arrangements for the Congo’s independence. (Steven.)
The way in which it was fought - Yasmeen
- First, came the Mulele rebellion (Jan 1961)in Kwilu Province,
this was one of the richest areas of the country. Pierre Mulele
ruled the rebellion and his followers killed about 150 officials.
His rebel army became a major threat to the country’s stability,
even though they consisted of less than 4000 members.

- The last UN troops left the Congo in June of 1964, and once
they’d left, a new wave of violence came crashing into the
country, consisting of riots and more rebellion. By this time,
there was about 500,000 square kilometers of territory in which
the rebels had come to take control of.
The way in which it was fought 2 - yasmeen
- From then on, the rebels were known as “the Popular Army of
Liberation.
- On the 5th August 1964, the rebels captures Stanleyville, which was
later known as Kisangani.
- Fighting became more prominent in the Congo’s daily life, and on the
19th of August, pitched fighting between the congolese army and the
rebels resulted in the death of over 300 of the rebels, including Mulele,
their leader.
How peace was established - Aboodie
The process of achieving peace in Congo after belgian colonisation and the
subsequent congo crisis was extremely complicated and a multi-faceted
effort.

◈ Independence from Belgium on 30th of June in 1960 when power was

shared between Kasa-Vubu (President) and Lumumba (Prime
minister) in a bicephalic Democratic Republic of Congo.
◈ 1960 The United Nations Operation in Congo (UNOC) established
somewhat centralized government through ceasefires and expatriation
of Belgium from Congo.
A collage of visual cues
 ◈ Foreign nations such as the USA and the Soviet Union lead to a
political stalemate which gave way to the end of the crisis in 1965
Joseph-Désiré Mobutu and his dictatorial regime.
◈ Congo was riddled with instability and cronyism
◈ 2001, Joseph Kabila took rule of the country after his father’s
assassination.
◈ Ended civil war through peace negotiations with rebel forces and
unification of the country but, the effects of colonisation still
remain at the roots of many conflicts.
◈ African World War, 1998 - 2003
UN peacekeeping units remain in Congo and many cases in the ICJ
have convicted corrupt congolese politicians and rebel leaders.
Drag a dot to indicate whether you agree or disagree that peace
was established

Agree Disagree
Compare and contrast the two wars in one sentence.
Works Cited
- ”Gulf War 1990 Causes and Effects.” Causes and Effects Table in A Level and IB Citizenship Studies,
<getrevising.co.uk/grids/gulf-war-1990-causes-and-effects.>
- blackpast.org writing team. “REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, (LATER ZAIRE).” Weapons and Warfare, 16 May 2017,
weaponsandwarfare.com/2017/05/19/republic-of-the-congo-later-zaire/.
- Oliver, Mark. “10 Horrifying Facts About The Genocide In The Congo Free State.” Listverse, 19 Feb. 2017,
listverse.com/2017/02/20/10-horrifying-facts-about-the-genocide-in-the-congo-free-state/.
- Steven. “A Short History of Colonialism in Congo, 1885-1997.” Libcom.org, libcom.org/history/short-history-
colonialism-congo-1885-1997.
- BBC. “Democratic Republic of Congo Profile - Timeline.” BBC News, BBC, 1 Aug. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-
13286306.
- Cordell, Dennis D., and Bernd Michael Wiese. “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia
Britannica, Inc., 9 Mar. 2018, www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo/Mobutus-regime#ref242734.
- United Nations Peacekeeping. “Closing of the United Nations Operation in the Congo .” Flicker, United Nations, 3
Aug. 2018, www.flickr.com/photos/unpeacekeeping/28886680127.
- Afrika Eye. “Mobutu: King of Zaire.” Flickr, 12 May 2009, www.flickr.com/photos/afrikaeye/3963401839.
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