Briefings
Weekly Briefing: 1ST – 7TH March 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_01-03-14 HEADLINES – DR Congo: * military operation against ADF-Nalu (North Kivu), backed by MONUSCO * clashes between army and APCLS in Masisi (North Kivu) * violence by FDLR north of Goma (North Kivu), Raia Mutomboki in Shabunda and FNL in Uvira (South Kivu), Bakata Katanga (Katanga) * farm of former head of police John Numbi in Lubumbashi searched * Rwanda asks
Weekly Briefing: 27TH February – 5TH March 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_27-02-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In the joint FARDC-UN military operation against the ADF/Nalu rebel group in Beni, North Kivu, for the first time UN helicopters were deployed to bombard the alleged last rebel stronghold. Close to Beni town, a UN vehicle was attacked with grenades, leaving five peacekeepers wounded. Further south, clashes continued between the APCLS militia and the ar
Weekly Briefing: 20TH – 26TH February 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_20-02-14 NEWS IN BRIEF In the past week violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) seems to have slightly abated, but still over 15,000 people, mostly Muslim civilians, are surrounded and threatened by militia groups. Three more African peacekeepers were killed, bringing their number to 19 since December. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to the international com
Weekly Briefing: 13TH – 19TH February 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_13-02-14 NEWS IN BRIEF The UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, is verifying reports it received about gross human rights abuses including the summary killing of over 70 men and women allegedly committed by armed groups in a remote area of Masisi territory, North Kivu. In the same territory, heavy fighting continued between the army and the APCLS militia. Further north, in Beni
Weekly Briefing: 5TH – 11TH February 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_05-02-14 NEWS IN BRIEF Violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to intensify, with UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres describing the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe of unspeakable proportions,” and the International Criminal Court (ICC) announcing plans to open a preliminary investigation into alleged war crimes. Rights groups and the
Weekly Briefing: 16TH – 22ND January 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_16-01-14 HEADLINES – DR Congo: * military operation against ADF-Nalu (North Kivu), backed by MONUSCO * clashes between army and APCLS in Masisi (North Kivu) * violence by FDLR north of Goma (North Kivu), Raia Mutomboki in Shabunda and FNL in Uvira (South Kivu), Bakata Katanga (Katanga) * farm of former head of police John Numbi in Lubumbashi searched * Rwanda asks
Weekly Briefing: 3RD – 9TH January 2014
Download IPIS_briefing_03-01-14 Reader’s survey As announced in December, IPIS conducts a reader’s survey on the weekly briefing, which is part of a wider evaluation of our work. The briefing will be back in two weeks. A short list of 10 multiple-choice questions can be found here. Your kind participation is very much appreciated and will help us to improve our service into the following year. We
Weekly Briefing: 28TH November – 4TH December
Download IPIS_briefing_28-11-13 HEADLINES – DR Congo: · UN launches first surveillance drones to monitor armed groups · Mai-Mai Cheka militia pulls out of Pinga, North Kivu (UN) – Central African Republic: · ex-Seleka rebels seen leaving capital Bangui before arrival more French troops · Christian ‘anti-balaka’ militia suspected of killings in Boali · heavy fighting in capital Bangui · UN Se
Weekly Briefing: 21ST – 27TH November 2013
Download IPIS_briefing_21-11-13 HEADLINES – DR Congo: · limited number of militiamen demobilising · violence by Mai-Mai groups in Maniema, fighting with FARDC in Katanga – Central African Republic: · authorities reportedly in contact with LRA unit, not Kony · UN considering options to tackle choas · France to triple its troops to over 1000, in support of AU Mission – ICC Bemba case: four arrested
Weekly Briefing: 14TH – 20TH November 2013
Download IPIS_briefing_14-11-13 HEADLINES – DR Congo: * several (Congolese) armed groups prepared to demobilise in Kivus and Katanga – Central African Republic: * Govt has been in contact with Kony (LRA) * more violence in Bangui and interior, attack in Cameroon * UN preparing for possible peacekeeping force of 6000 * US advises citizens to leave country, State Department calls situation
Weekly Briefing: 7TH – 13TH November 2013
HEADLINES DR Congo: · M23: troops being held in Uganda (and Rwanda?), left large arms depot · Kampala: Congo Government doesn’t want ‘agreement’ with defeated M23, only ‘declaration’; new split within M23 · security: head of MONUSCO to Pinga (North Kivu); FDLR in north Katanga; new armed group in Maniema · 2 new IPIS publications relating to
31 October – 6 November 2013
Download IPIS_briefing_31-10-13 HEADLINES DR Congo: M23 defeated, FDLR and many more armed groups to go Central African Republic: violence continues, UN officials see risk of genocide Swiss company accused of refining gold pillaged by Ituri armed group in 2004-2005 IPIS’ Latest Publications IPIS Insights: Why businesses should assess human rights impacts from the
17 – 23 October 2013
HEADLINES DR Congo: · Kampala talks suspended, despite international pressure · new M23 attack on UN helicopter · UN Intervention Brigade complete, deploying in M23-occupied territory · North Kivu: militias fighting in Masisi, presumed FDLR on Lake Edward, militia activity in Lubero and Beni · South Kivu: FDLR activity, Raia Mutomboki chased in Shabun
10 – 16 October 2013
In northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), rural radio stations are used to protect civilians from violence. Part of a growing network of high frequency (HF) shortwave radios that connects rural villages in remote parts of the DRC and neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), these radios are switched on each day as local radio operators report their village’s status in relation to a wi
3 – 9 October 2013
A delegation from the UN Security Council visited DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda to discuss the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement for Congo and the region signed in February in Addis-Ababa. In North Kivu, officials of the UN mission in DRC said that MONUSCO’s Intervention Brigade will also deal with the Islamist group ADF and with the FDLR, both as dangerous as
26 September – 2 October 2013
Last week, the UN Security Council passed its first resolution dedicated exclusively to the issue of small arms and light weapons.According to a UN report covering the period from November 2011 to May 2013, the human rights situation in eastern DR Congo significantly deteriorated, despite the Government’s efforts, with the majority of violations being committed by security and defence forces as we
19 – 25 September 2013
As the US signed the UN brokered Arms Trade Treaty this week, there has been some mobilisation around security in both the DRC and CAR on the margins of the General Assembly summit in New York. Calls for movement by the international community on the crisis in the Central African Republic saw France convene a mini-summit on the sidelines of inauguration celebrations in Mali, followed later by a ga
12 – 18 September 2013
The Rwandan capture of a Congolese soldier in what is said to have been neutral territory between Rwanda and the DRC caused a stir this week, taking place days after a grenade attack on Kigali, though ending in the combatant’s repatriation. As legislative elections saw Kagame’s RPF retain its grip on power with a 76% victory, the Rwandan legislature’s seats filled with women parliamentarians who n
5 – 11 September 2013
As clashes with the M23 in the DRC stalled for peace talks this week, the Central African Republic has seen reports of over 100 casualties (figure unconfirmed) as a result of clashes between Seleka rebels and fighters loyal to Francoise Bozize in Bassangoa. Hostilities have also spread to Buoar. Men claiming to the loyal to the ex-president are said to have attacked villages and national forces in
29 August – 4 September 2013
Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda run extremely high this week following last week’s strikes on Rwandan territory. Kigali has accused the FARDC of being the source of this bombardment and is reported to be discretely assembling troops near the Congolese border at Gisenyi. By contrast, MONUSCO states that the shots originated from M23 held territory. Diplomats leaving a closed session of the UN S