Briefings
1 – 7 January 2015
Download IPIS_briefing_01-01-15 NEWS IN BRIEF On the 2nd of January the official ultimatum date issued by the ICGLR and SADC for FDLR rebels to voluntarily disarm expired. When asked about the plight of civilians when operations will be launched, Special Representative Moustapha Soumare said that mechanisms have been put in place to support this process. Jason Stearns reported that, almost immedia
Weekly Briefing: 11TH – 17TH December 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_11-12-14 NEWS IN BRIEF This week a number of organisations, including the UN, have expressed concern that implementation of the Nairobi agreements on the M23 are being implemented too slowly. However, on December 17 the first wave of 120 former M23 rebels returned to the DRC, despite some prior complaints that elements of repatriation have been “forced”. On Saturday, 13 Dece
Weekly Briefing: 4TH – 10TH December 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_04-12-14 NEWS IN BRIEF Friday heralded the dispatch of two delegations from the DRC to neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda – both tasked with repatriating the M23. Meanwhile, Uganda threatened to grant political asylum to the ex-fighters should the Congolese authorities continue to dawdle over completing this element of its peace agreement with the group. This Sunday saw the anno
Weekly Briefing: 27TH November – 3RD December 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_27-11-14 NEWS IN BRIEF Britain suspended its provision of aid to Congolese police reforms this week in light of recent reports highlighting dozens of extra-judicial killings and disappearances carried out as part of Operation Likofi in Kinshasa, DRC. Meanwhile, as top UN, African Union and other Special Envoys expressed their outrage about massacres perpetrated against civil
Weekly Briefing: 20TH – 26TH November 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_20-11-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In addition to its usual fare of media coverage from the Great Lakes region, this week’s briefing rounds off with an arms trade special – giving you a brief round up of this year’s news/trends regarding the arms trade in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kinshasa the authorities have continued to dismiss Human Rights Watch’s report on operation Likofi, whilst thi
Weekly Briefing: 13TH – 19TH November 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_13-11-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch has been accused of “unacceptable interference” after publishing a second report on Operation Likofi and calling for the State to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of human rights abuses, including the operation’s commander General Celestine Kanyama. The report alleges the commission of 51 su
Weekly Briefing: 6TH – 12TH November 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_06-11-14 NEWS IN BRIEF The UN Security Council has expressed concern over the lack of progress made in disarming the FDLR in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week, whilst in North Kivu, the rebel group is accused of perpetrating 13 killings and dozens of rapes last week in Walikale territory. Goma saw the start of a disarmament campaign last Thursday. In Beni territ
Weekly Briefing: 30TH October – 5TH November 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_30-10-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In the Democratic Republic of Congo, events in Burkina Faso this week are said to have prompted Congolese authorities to clamp down on demonstrations against constitutional reform in Kinshasa with 200 arrests. Ongoing violence in North Kivu was in the spotlight this week as Joseph Kabila visited Beni, promising to put an end to the violence attributed
Weekly Briefing: 16TH – 22ND October 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_16-10-14 NEWS IN BRIEF Luanda hosted a three say summit to discuss security in the Great Lakes region this week as defence ministers from SADC and ICGLR States emerged calling for the FDLR to disarm by December. In the DRC, last week’s release of a UN report outlining abuses by police during operation Likofi has been met by the Congolese government with claims of bias. The r
Weekly Briefing 9TH – 15TH October 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_09-10-14 NEWS IN BRIEF A report released by the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in the DRC this week details human rights abuses committed by the M23 in North Kivu during its occupation between April 2012 and November 2013. The UNJHRO highlights that these atrocities constitute crimes under both international and Congolese law, calling upon the authorities to bring per
Weekly Briefing: 2ND – 8TH October 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_02-10-14 NEWS IN BRIEF A review of progress regarding FDLR presence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo saw the UN Security Council assert the swift neutralisation of the group as a top priority this week. On the ground in the East of the country, Province Orientale is said to have seen a resurgence of Lord’s Resistance Army activity. ADF-Nalu attacks on a number of loca
Weekly Briefing: 19TH – 25TH September
Download IPIS_briefing_19-09-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In South Kivu, the Mai-Mai Raia Mutomboki are said to have retaken the town of Tchombi after the FARDC withdrew from the locality. Earlier last week FARDC forces had attacked the town and killed militia leader Paul Ngumbi Wangozi. In Province Orientale, multiple attacks by the FRPI on several villages south of Irumu are reported, with local leaders rep
11TH – 17TH September 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_11-09-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In North Kivu, the leader of the Mai Mai Kifuafua is reported to have stated the group’s willingness to disarm under the condition that state forces provide security in the region. As fighting continues between local militias and the FDLR many people are said to have fled their villages located along the border between Walikale and Lubero. In South Kiv
Weekly Briefing: 4TH – 10TH September 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_04-09-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In North Kivu, MONUSCO has reported recovering 258 weapons with the aid of locals since May this year. In Province Orientale MONUSCO and FARDC have announced a military advance against the FRPI and its leader Cobra Matata. While an exact date for the initiative has not been announced, the local leader of the Walendu Bindi region has requested time to n
Weekly Briefing: 28TH August – 3RD September 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_28-08-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In North Kivu, several hostages have been freed from the hands of the ADF-Nalu militia, including a member of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) – one of four MSF workers taken in July last year. In South Kivu, 15 Mai-Mai Yakutumba are said to have died during clashes with the FARDC in the Fizi region. The continuing state of insecurity in the area reported
Weekly Briefing: 21ST – 27TH August 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_21-08-14 NEWS IN BRIEF Civil Society in North Kivu has called on the FARDC to take control over areas conquered from the ADF militia in order to further stabilise the region and to allow for the return of the displaced. In South Kivu armed men from the Raïa Mutomboki militia leader Alexandere took control of several villages and the town of Penekusu causing many families to
Weekly Briefing: 14TH – 20TH August 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_14-08-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In Mushaki, North Kivu, seven alleged M23 combatants have reportedly been handed over to the FARDC by the Raïa Mutomboki after trying to convince the local militia to join their cause. In South Kivu, a family of six has died in ethnic violence in Mutarule. While the identity of the attackers is still unknown an official inquiry into the case has been c
Weekly Briefing: 7TH – 13TH August 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_07-08-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In North Kivu further fighting between the FARDC and the Mai-Mai Cheka in the Kabombo region has caused many to flee. In South Kivu the army’s push against the Mai-Mai Mutomboki is said to have left several fighters dead. Meanwhile, it was reported that this militia group has attacked and looted a mine in Nsele. In Province Orientale fighters of the FR
Weekly Briefing: 31ST July – 6TH August 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_31-07-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In the DRC, 280 hostages held by the ADF in North Kivu were rescued in a joint mission between FARDC and MONUSCO. After attacks on Lake Tanganyika, South Kivu, Burundi has complained about a lack of collaboration between the two countries in the fight against Congolese militias. In Province Oriental, FRPI militiamen are accused of several atrocities ag
Weekly Briefing: 24TH – 30TH July
Download IPIS_briefing_24-07-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In North Kivu, FARDC and MONUSCO launched an initiative to urge the Ugandan Militia ADF to voluntarily disarm. By dropping leaflets in the Beni region it is hoped to convince militiamen to drop their arms and release the around 250 people currently held hostage by the group. In South Kivu, fighting is reported to have broken out between the FARDC and t
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