BRIEFING

15 – 21 August 2013

EDITORIAL

As Micheal Djotodia was sworn in as the Central African Republic’s president on Sunday, calls for action to prevent the collapse of this volatile state fervently continued.Insecurity and humanitarian urgency in the country has reached crisis levels with fears that the CAR risks total collapse if swift action is not taken. In Bangui this week clashes between the Seleka and former President Bozize supporters left at least ten people dead, whilst in the north of the country an upsurge in violence is said to have occasioned numerous deaths, sparking fears of a new rebellion. Cameroon is reported to have closed its frontier with the CAR following a violent Seleka incursion upon the border town of Toktoyo, killing a Cameroonian police official.

Meanwhile as Martin Kobler toured eastern DRC in his new role as MONUSCO head this week, civil society orchastrated strikes demanding the launch of offensive operations continued in Beni. Clashes between the Mai-Mai Cheka and the APCLS are reported to have caused considerable displacement in North Kivu, whilst South Kivusaw the movement of around two thousand people fleeing attacks by unidentified gunmen said to have killed ten people in Mutarule. The attack has ignited anger among local youths and accusations of links between the armed men and members of the state security forces. In Katanga, child protection agencies are said to have retrieved 82 children from the Bakata Katanga.

On the ninth anniversary of the devastating attack on Banyamulenge refugees at Gatumba camp in Burundi, survivors of the massacre are reported to have filed a complaint against former FNL leader, Agathon Rwasa, and his former spokesman, with the Burundian justice system.

Arms Trade and Security in the Great Lakes Region

Recent news on conflict, security and arms trade across the Great Lakes Region. 

DRC 

MONUSCO – Intervention Brigade

MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade ready to respond to armed groups in North Kivu | 14 August 2013 | MONUSCO
La Brigade d’Intervention de la MONUSCO prête à faire face aux groupes armés du Nord-Kivu | 14 August 2013 | MONUSCO
Following requests from several local and foreign media, Tanzanian and South African Special Forces forming part of MONUSCO’s intervention brigade displayed a show of force during a training exercise to demonstrate their ability to cope with any assaults coming from rebel groups. The journalists were also able to witness the way in which the FIB conducts daily patrols in the area between Sake and Moja in North Kivu province.

Summit happy about manoeuvres of SADC’s intervention brigade for DRC | 19 August 2013 | Angola Press
Le sommet se rejouit du déploiement de la brigade d’intervention de la SADC en RDC | 19 August 2013 | Angola Press | allAfrica
The Third Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) manifested its satisfaction at the manoeuvres of the organisation’s Intervention Brigade for the Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC).

UN mission steps up patrols in eastern DR Congo, sends in choppers to protect civilians | 21 August 2013 | UN News Centre
MONUSCO has stepped up patrols and is sending in helicopters to protect civilians in the eastern part of the country following continued clashes between armed groups.

Martin Kobler takes office

Martin Kobler: «Je promets de m’occuper des problèmes des groupes armés avec toute ma vigueur» | 17 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
RDC : la Monusco va s’occuper des problèmes du Kivu avec “vigueur” | 18 August 2013 | AFP | Jeune Afrique
DR Congo: In North Kivu visit, envoy reaffirms UN commitment to resolve conflict | 20 August 2013 | UN News Centre
Le Représentant de l’ONU en RDC affirme sa détermination à restaurer l’autorité de l’Etat | 20 August 2013 | UN News Centre
The new Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, Martin Kobler, has committed to providing a solution to the security crisis in North Kivu. On Saturday, August 17, he said at the end of a meeting with the vice governor of North Kivu and the President of the Provincial Assembly in Goma that “It is important to solve the problem of armed groups, restore state authority and fulfill our mandate. I promise to take care of the problems of Kivu, Goma and armed groups with all my strength.”

Nord-Kivu: Martin Kobler sollicite l’appui de la population | 19 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, Martin Koblerm has sought the support of the people of North Kivu in the fight against armed groups in the province. He made the call, Monday, Aug. 19, at the end of its outreach mission to Goma, Kiwanja in Rutshuru and Sake, in Masisi.

Kampala talks

La SADC recommande à Kinshasa et au M23 d’envisager « un délai raisonnable » pour finaliser leurs pourparlers à Kampala | 20 August 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Le 33ème Sommet des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de la Communauté de développement d’Afrique australe (SADC), qui s’est tenu à Lilongwe (Malawi) les 17 et 18 août 2013, a recommandé aux autorités de la RD Congo et à la rébellion du M23 d’envisager « un délai raisonnable » pour finaliser leurs pourparlers engagés le 9 décembre 2012 à Kampala (Ouganda).

Prosecution of Nzangi for breach of national security

Congo Lawmaker Will Ask President Kabila for Pardon, Lawyer Says | 19 August 2013 | Bloomberg
A DRC lawmaker condemned to three years in prison for criticizing the government’s role in the fighting in the east will ask President Kabila for clemency, his lawyer said. Congo’s Supreme Judicial Court sentenced National Assembly member Muhindo Nzangi on Aug. 13 for endangering national security for remarks in an interview with a radio station two days before that the government bore some responsibility for fighting in the province between rebels and the army.

RDC : le MSR reprend sa participation aux activités de la Majorité présidentielle | 19 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The Social Movement for the Republic (MSR) has announced having lifted its decision to suspend its participation in the meetings and political activities of the Presidential Majority. It had suspended its participation following the conviction of its deputy Muhindo Nzangi to three years imprisonment by the Supreme Court of Justice on charges of endangering the security of the state.

RDC: le MLC dénonce l’emprisonnement du député MSR Muhindo Nzangi | 15 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Goma : une dizaine de jeunes manifestent pour la libération du député Muhindo | 21 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
A dozen young people staged a sit-in protest outside the office of the governor of North Kivu in Goma on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to demand the release of MP Muhindo Nzangi, sentenced to three years imprisonment by the Supreme Court of Justice for crimes against the security of the state. The Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) has also denounced the conviction stating that it is a breach of parliamentary immunity.

Child soldiers

Une ONG encourage le gouvernement à lutter contre l’enrôlement des enfants dans les groupes armés | 15 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The NGO Peace for Children, has recommended that the government get involved in coaching youths to fight against the recruitment and use of children in armed groups. The recommendation was made during a conference held on Wednesday, August 14, in Kinshasa, by the Werrason Foundation with support from UNICEF.

La Monusco salue la séparation de 82 enfants de la milice Bakata Katanga | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
UN mission welcomes release of children recruited by armed group in DR Congo | 16 August 2013 | UN News Centre
RDC : la MONUSCO salue la libération de 82 enfants du groupe armé Bakata-Katanga | 16 August 2013 | UN News Centre
RDC: la Monusco libère 82 enfants enrôlés dans une milice maï-maï | 18 August 2013 | RFI
MONUSCO has welcomed the separation of 82 children, including 13 girls, from the Mai-Mai Bakata Katanga, between 13 and 15 August 2013.The children, ranging in age from eight to seventeen, were identified and separated from the group in the territories of Moba, Monono well as Kayumba and Kabwela au Katanga, through the combined action of agencies working in the field of child protection.

Les groupes armés intensifient l’utilisation d’enfants | 20 August 2013 | IPS
Goma – Malgré la réinsertion, entre janvier et juillet, de quelque 1.700 enfants-soldats par le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF), plus de 2.000 autres sont toujours utilisés par 27 groupes armés au Nord-Kivu, dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC).

Enrôlée volontairement par les miliciens Maï-Maï du Nord-Kivu – Le choix de Rosine | 20 August 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
« On a commencé à mettre les coups de machette dans son ventre pour trouver l’enfant qui était à l’intérieur». À l’âge de 10 ans, Rosine est témoin du massacre de toute sa famille.

Province Orientale

Ituri: des hommes armés extorquent des biens de la population à Djugu | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Unidentified armed men have been extorting money, fish and other household goods from the inhabitants of the town of Nyamamba in Djugu. Neighbouring residents say the attackers opened fire though there were no casualties.

North Kivu

Nord-Kivu : le colonel déserteur Bisamaza se dirige vers Lubero avec ses hommes | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Deserter Colonel Richard Bisamaza is heading towards Mangurejipa in Lubero territory in the company of a hundred heavily armed men in FARDC uniform, local sources have said. The group arrived on Thursday at Biakato, a town in Province Oriental. The village of Mangurejipa located 60 kilometers from the town of Beni is considered the bastion of self-proclaimed Mai-Mai General Lafontaine Sikuly.

Beni: la société civile attend des «actions concrètes» de la brigade d’intervention de la Monusco  | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Nord-Kivu: deuxième journée “ville-morte” à Beni | 21 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The population of Beni, 350 km north of Goma, has for two days observed “dead city” strike action. Several sources indicate that Beni has looked like a ghost town since Tuesday. The local population is calling on the MONUSCO intervention brigade to hunt down the M23, FDLR, ADF-Nalu and Mai-Mai rebels, and also aim to push the FARDC to continue military operations in areas of fighting in North Kivu. The action has taken place following a meeting between civil society leaders and MONUSCO at which the need for concrete action was emphasised by civil society representatives.

Nord-Kivu: le M23 accusé de l’enlèvement du coordonateur de la société civile à Rutshuru | 17 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Civil society in North Kivu has accused the M23 of kidnapping the coordinator of Rutshuru territory, Saidi Kasongo, on Thursday, August 15. This civic organization says its member was taken to an unknown destination. The family of Saidi Kasongo reported that he had been in hiding in Goma, where he had found refuge for some time.

Nord-Kivu : des déplacés fuient les combats entre miliciens Maï-Maï et rebelles rwandais | 17 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Nord-Kivu : 11 ONG déplorent les violations des droits de l’homme à Pinga | 18 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Eleven humanitarian and human rights organizations in the territory of Walikale have decried the aggravation of human rights violations in Pinga following clashes between militias. They have called for the intervention of the Congolese authorities and the international community to help thousands of people trapped in the fighting between the Mai-Mai Cheka group and the Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (APCLS) led by warlord Janvier Kalahiri.

Le M23 impose une quittance d’« effort de guerre » aux ménages de Rutshuru | 21 August 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Le mouvement rebelle du 23 Mars (M23) imposerait à la population une « taxe » pour « effort de guerre » sur le territoire de Rutshuru, selon des informations obtenues par Le Potentiel.

South Kivu

RDC: 2 000 déplacés fuient Mutarule vers Sange | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Sud-Kivu : des hommes armés tuent 11 personnes à Mutarule-Katekama | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Over two thousand people fled to the town of Sange in South Kivu on Friday morning following reported attacks by gunmen in Mutarule on Thursday, a town 7 km northeast of Sange. The gunmen are said to have killed eleven people, wounded others and burned two houses, Local youths have expressed anger at the killings, demanding the resignation of military personnel suspected of links with the armed men.

Meurtres à Mutarule : le gouvernement du Sud-Kivu met sur pied une commission d’enquête | 17 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
On Saturday, August 17, the Government of South Kivu announced the establishment of a commission to investigate ten killings that had occurred two days earlier between Mutarule and Katekama, on the Rusizi plain in Uvira. After the murders, young people had spread the bodies of eight victims on the road connecting Uvira and Bukavu, demanding the appearance of local and provincial authorities before removing them.

Sud-Kivu : nouveaux affrontements entre l’armée et des miliciens Maï-Maï à Nyakabere | 18 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
New clashes erupted at dawn on Saturday, August 17, between the FARDC and a group of Mai-Mai on the Rusizi plain, Uvira. According to local sources, the Mai-Mai attacked the 1005th Army Regiment based Nyakabere before being driven back to the hills of Mutarule. No report is yet available.

Sud-Kivu: les FARDC renforcent leurs dispositifs sécuritaires à Mutarule | 21 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The 10th military region has been strengthening its security for two days in Mutarule on the Rusizi plain in Uvira (South Kivu). It has installed an operational staff led by two battalions of the 1005th Regiment to track down armed groups and ensure the return of displaced people. A traditional leader has said that people do not trust the FARDC troops deployed in their villages and want these units to be changed before they will go home.

Nouveaux heurts entre communautés bafulero et barundi à la frontière burundo-congolaise | 21 August 2013 | RFI
Loin des différents conflits qui ont cours en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) et qui sont très médiatisés depuis deux ans dans le Sud-Kivu, des explosions de violences ont lieu régulièrement entre les tribus bafulero et barundi.

Katanga

La Monusco salue la séparation de 82 enfants de la milice Bakata Katanga | 16 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
MONUSCO has welcomed the separation of 82 children, including 13 girls, from the Mai-Mai Bakata Katanga, between 13 and 15 August 2013.The children, ranging in age from eight to seventeen, were identified and separated from the group in the territories of Moba, Monono well as Kayumba and Kabwela au Katanga, through the combined action of agencies working in the field of child protection.

Katanga: l’ONG Linapedho accuse la police d’extorsion à Basanga | 19 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The National Peasant Rights League (Linapedho) has denounced the extortion and looting of the people of the chiefdom Basanga at the hands of police on Saturday. The administrator of Kambove territory has rejected these allegations, saying that the police had gone to restore order after the events last Thursday when some residents who had demanded the release of their tribal chief were arrested in Lubumbashi after a succession dispute.

Equateur

Equateur : un policier tué dans des accrochages entre la population et les forces de l’ordre | 17 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
A number of people were wounded during clashes on Thursday, August 15, between the public and law enforcement officials in Boyambalanga in South Ubangi. One policeman succumbed to his injuries. Four police officers arrived in this town, about 40 km from Gemena to arrest two men, one of whom was suspected of raping a 13 year old girl. The suspects resisted the arrest, with the support of the population.

Burundi 

Commemoration of 2004 Gatumba attack

Burundi: les familles des victimes du massacre de Gatumba réclament toujours justice | 16 August 2013 | RFI
Les Banyamulenges, des Tutsis d’origine congolaise réfugiés au Burundi, ont commémoré en milieu de semaine, le neuvième anniversaire de l’attaque d’un camp qui abritait des réfugiés dans la localité burundaise de Gatumba, 13 km à l’est de la capitale Bujumbura et à un jet de pierre de la frontière congolaise. L’attaque avait fait 166 morts et plus de 100 blessés.

CAR

Security in the CAR

Senior UN officials sound alarm on multiple crises gripping Central African Republic | 14 August 2013 | UN News Centre
L’ONU préoccupée par la dégradation de la situation sécuritaire et humanitaire en République centrafricaine | 14 August 2013 | UN News Centre
Central African Republic on brink of collapse: U.N. | 14 August 2013 | Reuters
Le nouveau Chef du BINUCA décrit une situation en République centrafricaine « très volatile et imprévisible » | 14 August 2013 | UN Security Council | Reliefweb
Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la situation en République centrafricaine (S/2013/470) | 14 August 2013 | UN Security Council | Reliefweb
Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos Security Council Briefing on Central African Republic | 14 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb
Central African Republic is serious threat to region – UN | 15 August 2013 | BBC Africa
L’ONU s’inquiète de la situation en Centrafrique et veut renforcer son action | 15 August 2013 | RFI
Général Babacar Gaye sur RFI : en RCA, la sécurité ne doit pas être livrée «à des bandes informelles» | 19 August 2013 | RFI
Central African Republic – a crisis in numbers | 16 August 2013 | IRIN
République centrafricaine — la crise en chiffres | 20 August 2013 | IRIN
Senior United Nations officials today raised the alarm about the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), which is marked by ongoing insecurity and instability as well as a rapidly growing humanitarian emergency.

RCA: flambée de violence dans plusieurs localités du pays | 15 August 2013 | RFI
En Centrafrique, depuis 72 heures, plusieurs localités du nord du pays sont en proie aux violences.

Interview: François Bozizé : ” Tôt ou tard, je reviendrai “ | 16 August 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Exilé, lâché par ses homologues d’Afrique centrale, le président déchu n’a pas baissé les bras. Rappelant que son mandat courait jusqu’en 2016, François Bozizé réclame toujours le retour à l’ordre constitutionnel.

Centrafrique: les membres de la Cour constitutionnelle prêtent serment | 16 August 2013 | RFI
Nouvelle avancée dans la transition en Centrafrique | 16 August 2013 | Radio Ndeke Luka | Fondation Hirondelle
En Centrafrique, les membres de la Cour constitutionnelle de transition ont prêté serment vendredi 16 août au matin à Bangui.

Dispatch: New CAR President, More Misrule | 16 August 2013 | Human Rights Watch
Ex-rebel sworn in as Central African Republic president | 18 August 2013 | Reuters
Central African Republic Coup Leader Sworn in as President | 18 August 2013 | Voice of America
Début de la transition en Centrafrique: Michel Djotodia face à ses défis | 18 August 2013 | RFI
Centrafrique : Djotodia a prêté serment comme nouveau président | 18 August 2013 | AFP | Jeune Afrique
Centrafrique: coup d’envoi de la transition de 18 mois | 18 August 2013 | RFI
Djotodia boute officiellement Bozizé hors de la Centrafrique | 18 August 2013 | Afrik.com
Former rebel leader Michel Djotodia was formally sworn in as the Central African Republic’s president on Sunday, starting the clock on his interim administration’s 18-month deadline to restore order and organize elections.

Violence Against Civilians Peaks in Central African Republic | 19 August 2013 | IPS
La violence contre les civils est à son paroxysme | 20 August 2013 | IPS
As Michel Djotodia took his oath as the new president of the Central African Republic (CAR) on Aug. 18, Séléka, the coalition of rebel groups that he led and that helped him overthrow the government on Mar. 23, were still looting and killing civilians.

Centrafrique: tensions à Bangui dans le quartier de Boy-Rabe | 20 August 2013 | RFI
Tensions à Bangui, dans le fief de l’ancien président Bozizé | 20 August 2013 | Jeune Afrique
La Seleka tire à nouveau à Bangui | 21 August 2013 | BBC Afrique
Centrafrique: Bangui sous tension après une opération de la Seleka | 21 August 2013 | RFI
À Bangui, “les seigneurs de guerre ont encore frappé” | 21 August 2013 | Jeune Afrique
A Bangui, l’opération de désarmement se retourne contre les civils | 21 August 2013 | RFI
Fusillades à Bangui dans la nuit | 21 August 2013 | BBC Afrique
Centrafrique: la Seleka justifie l’opération de désarmement qui a créé la panique à Bangui | 21 August 2013 | RFI
RCA: retour au calme à Bangui | 21 August 2013 | BBC Afrique
Centrafrique : retour d’un calme précaire au nord de Bangui | 22 August 2013 | RFI
Clashes in Central African Republic kill at least 10 | 21 August 2013 | Reuters
At least 10 people were killed in clashes across the capital of the Central African Republic between supporters of its former president and the fighters who ousted him and seized power five months ago, officials said.

Cameroon Closes Border After Shooting Incident | 21 August 2013 | Voice of America
Fermeture de la frontière entre le Cameroun et la RCA | 21 August 2013 | La Voix de l’Amérique
Un policier camerounais tué par des rebelles de la Séléka | 21 August 2013 | Africa Info (Douala) | allAfrica
Rca- Cameroun : tensions à la frontière | 22 August 2013 | BBC Afrique
Yaounde, Cameroon — Cameroon has closed its borders with Central African Republic, after Seleka rebel fighters raided the Cameroonian border town of Toktoyo, killing the Cameroonian border police chief during the attack.

Analysis

Briefing: Crisis in the Central African Republic – August 2013 | 15 August 2013 | Conciliation Resources
Peace and progress in Central African Republic hinge on securing space for dialogue | 15 August 2013 | Conciliation Resources
The ousting of President Bozizé by the Seleka coalition in March 2013, which followed the flawed Libreville peace talks of January 2013, has plunged the already fragile state into another prolonged and multifaceted crisis.

Refugee and IDP Reports

Non-comprehensive overview and selected articles on the status of refugees in the Great Lakes Region

DRC 

Humanitarian reports

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province Orientale No 32/13, 14 août 2013 | 14 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Sud-Kivu No 33/13, 13 août 2013 | 14 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu No 26/13, 13 août 2013 | 14 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Katanga No 31/13, 14 août 2013 | 16 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Laissez les humanitaires venir en aide aux populations en danger | 17 August 2013 | UNOCHA, WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Sud-Kivu No 34/13, 20 août 2013 | 20 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

RDC – Sud-Kivu : Incidents sécuritaires contre les humanitaires (juillet 2013) | 20 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin humanitaire provincial: Province du Sud-Kivu, RD Congo – juillet 2013 | 20 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Au secours des réfugiés ougandais | 20 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu No 27/13, 20 août 2013 | 21 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Press coverage of humanitarian situation

Nord-Kivu: des déplacés de Kamango livrés à eux-mêmes | 15 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Nearly sixty thousand people living in the ​​Kamango area of Beni (North Kivu) require humanitarian assistance. After fleeing fighting in mid-July between the FARDC and the ADF-Nalu rebel movement most have returned to their homes where they live in poverty.

Déclaration conjointe du Ministre des Affaires Sociales, Action Humanitaire et Solidarité Nationale Charles Naweji Mundele et du Coordonnateur Humanitaire Moustapha Soumaré à l’occasion de la célébration de la Journée mondiale de l’aide humanitaire | 19 August 2013 | Government of the DR Congo, UN Country Team in DR Congo | Reliefweb

La Haut-Commissaire adjointe aux droits de l’homme se rend en RDC | 19 August 2013 | UN News Centre
La Haut-Commissaire adjointe des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme, Flavia Pansieri, a annoncé lundi qu’elle effectuera une mission en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) du 22 au 28 août 2013 pour soutenir les efforts de protection des populations civiles et la lutte contre l’impunité.

World Humanitarian Day: What it means to be an aid worker in DRC | 16 August 2013 | IRIN
Journée mondiale de l’aide humanitaire: Ce que veut dire être un acteur de l’aide humanitaire en RDC | 19 August 2013 | IRIN
RDC : les humanitaires veulent plus de sécurité pour aider les populations | 19 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
On Monday, August 19, a day dedicated in homage to humanitarian workers who have lost their lives in the exercise of their functions the humanitarian community decried the deteriorating humanitarian situation being experienced by the DRC’s 2.6 million internally displaced over 60% of whom live in North and South Kivu. Humanitarians took the opportunity to once more ask armed groups not to block their access to people who need help.

Communities in fear and uncertainty | 21 August 2013 | ICRC | Reliefweb
République démocratique du Congo : de nombreuses communautés vivent dans l’insécurité et l’incertitude | 21 August 2013 | ICRC | Reliefweb
Uganda

Refugees

Uganda says DRC refugees must move to designated camp | 14 August 2013 | IRIN

UNHCR begins moving Congolese refugees from transit centre to settlement in Uganda | 16 August 2013 | UNHCR | Reliefweb

Rwanda

Refugees

129 Congolese refugees repatriated | 14 August 2013 | Government of Rwanda | Reliefweb

IOM Supports Sustainable Reintegration of Rwandan Returnees | 16 August 2013 | International Organization for Migration | Reliefweb

Burundi 

Humanitarian reports

Influx from the DRC to Burundi, UNHCR Emergency Update #1, 21 August 2013 | 21 August 2013 | UNHCR | Reliefweb

UNHCR Burundi – Fact Sheet, July 2013 | 21 August 2013 | UNHCR | Reliefweb

CAR

OCHA Updates

Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos Security Council Briefing on Central African Republic | 14 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

République centrafricaine Revue de Presse Hebdomadaire du 12 au 19 août 2013 | 19 August 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Justice and Tribunals 

Non-comprehensive overview and selected articles on major trials and tribunals for crimes committed in the Great Lakes Region

 DRC

Bemba ICC trial

CPI/Bemba – Reprise du procès de Jean-Pierre Bemba devant la CPI | 20 August 2013 | Hirondelle News Agency

Two Bemba Witnesses Blame Atrocities On Bozizé Rebels | 20 August 2013 | Bemba Trial Website | allAfrica

Witness – Central African Rapes Were Fueled By Drug Abuse | 21 August 2013 | Bemba Trial Website | allAfrica

Rwanda 

ICTR

Le bilan en demi-teinte du TPIR | 19 August 2013 | IPS
Arusha – Créé par une résolution du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies en novembre 1994, le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR), basé à Arusha, en Tanzanie, devrait fermer ses portes à la fin de 2014 après plusieurs reports.

Burundi

Complaint lodged against Rwasa

Burundi: Agathon Rwasa dans le collimateur de la justice | 22 August 2013 | RFI
Agathon Rwasa, le leader historique des ex-rebelles des Forces nationales de libération (FNL), qui vient de réapparaître publiquement après trois années passés dans la clandestinité, serait dans le collimateur de la justice. On a appris que les réfugiés congolais banyamulenge rescapés du massacre perpétré dans le camp de Gatumba en 2004 (qui avait fait 166 morts et 116 blessés), ont porté plainte contre lui et son ancien porte-parole auprès de la justice burundaise il y a une dizaine de jours.

Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region

Recent news on issues relating to natural resource extraction and governance in the Great Lakes Region.
Seminar on transboundary natural resource management

Des parlementaires des Grands Lacs discuteront de la gestion des ressources naturelles en septembre | 15 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The first speaker of the Senate of the DRC, Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga, announced on Tuesday, August 13, that the Governor of the Province Oriental will hold a regional seminar on the use and management of transboundary natural resources in Kisangani. This seminar will be held from September 30 to 2 October and bring together parliamentarians from Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.


DRC 

Hydropower

Inga Hydropower project in DRC: Sustainable Energy for Millions | 14 August 2013 | African Development Bank Group
The Congo River, one of the most powerful rivers in Africa, has very high hydropower potential that could contribute significantly to the needs of the continent. Currently, only the Inga site of the river is being harnessed for hydropower generation, with an installed capacity of only 1775 MW compared with Inga’s potential of 40,000 MW.

Africa’s Largest Hydroelectric Project May Hit the Rocks | 17 August 2013 | IPS
There are big aspirations for Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, the Inga III that is set to be built in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But analysts are sceptical that such an ambitious project will ever be realised.

Réhabilitation des turbines à Inga au point mort – La SNEL et la Banque mondiale au banc des accusés | 19 August 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
« Nul ne peut se prévaloir de ses propres turpitudes ». Ce principe de droit s’applique à la Société nationale d’électricité (SNEL) et à la Banque mondiale dans l’exécution du projet PMEDE qui bat de l’aile depuis 2008.

Inga – Le grand flou | 19 August 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Retenu parmi les priorités de l’action gouvernementale depuis le mandat passé, le chantier électricité a du plomb dans l’aile. Alors que les autres axes ont connu un début d’exécution, celui-ci est toujours au point mort. Pendant ce temps, la qualité des services offerts par la Société nationale d’électricité (SNEL) à sa clientèle se dégrade de plus en plus.

Deforestation

Congo forest villages repair damage from charcoal business | 20 August 2013 | Thomson Reuters Foundation
The Congolese village of Madimba is struggling with the ravages of decades of rampant deforestation and the capital Kinshasa’s insatiable appetite for cooking with charcoal.

Uganda

Oil

How Eastern Africa Can Avoid The Resource Curse? | 13 August 2013 | African Arguments
Eastern Africa is the new fossil fuel frontier. In the last few years Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique have discovered large quantities of commercially viable oil and gas deposits, with the potential for even more discoveries as more aggressive prospecting continues.

Govt – Oil Refinery Deal Still Up for Grabs | 16 August 2013 | New Vision | allAfrica
Potential investors interested in the lucrative Uganda Refinery Project will have to wait until September to formerly express their interest, the energy and mineral development ministry has announced.

Response to Observer article of Wednesday August 14, 2013 | 19 August 2013 | Strategic Friends International
“I wish to respond to an article that appeared in the Observer newspaper of Wednesday August 14, 2013 under the headline Oil refinery: compensation rates get complicated in which facts regarding our firm and work were misrepresented.”

Oil Payments – Affected People Feel Cheated | 20 August 2013 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
With preparations for the construction of an oil refinery continuing, the matter of compensation for land in the affected area continues to raise anxiety in Kabaale parish in Hoima district. The Observer’s Edward Ssekika interviewed Kosea Wambaka, the Head of Party and Programmes at Strategic Friends International, a local consultancy firm, conducting the exercise on behalf of the government.

Mining

Mines Umbrella to Host Kampala Talks | 17 August 2013 | East African Business Week | allAfrica
The Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) is organizing the second mineral wealth conference set for October.

Lokeris Allays Suspicions in Mining | 18 August 2013 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
The minister of state for Mineral Development, Peter Lokeris, believes the breakdown of communication between the mining communities and key government departments is part of the reason that the sector has not grown to its full potential.

Extractive Companies, Energy, Trade and Foreign Investment

Recent news on national and international extractive and energy companies and investment in the Great Lakes Region

DRC

Copper & cobalt

Glencore Xstrata copper production up 20% as projects ramp up | 14 August 2013 | Mining Weekly
New mines, Africa help boost Glencore’s copper output | 14 August 2013 | Reuters | Mineweb
Miner and trader Glencore Xstrata reported copper production increased by a fifth in the first six months of 2013, driven by the ramp-up of mines replacing depleted operations and a stronger performance in Congo.

Mawson West Announces Q2 Financial and Operating Results | 14 August 2013 | Mawson West Ltd. | Marketwired
Mawson West Limited, an Africa-focused copper producer, developer and explorer, has released its financial results and related management discussion and analysis for Q2 2013. Solid quarterly copper production of 5,189 tonnes at Mawson West’s flagship Dikulushi project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) places the Company on track to meet its full-year production target of between 20,000 and 22,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate.

Titan Proposes Acquisition of Additional Copper Project in Katanga Province, DRC | 16 August 2013 | Titan Goldworx Resources Inc. | Marketwired
Titan Goldworx Resources Inc. is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated May 31, 2013, it has amended the Letter of Intent with Falcon Copper Ltd. to include Titan’s proposed acquisition from Falcon of an additional copper project located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

ENRC buys laser scanning and software system for DRC copper/cobalt mines | 16 August 2013 | Mineweb
An integrated laser scanning and monitoring system has been purchased by ENRC to improve safety at its copper/cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gold

Kilo Goldmines Ltd.: Completion of Planned 2013 Somituri Project Drilling Programme and Appointment of an Independent Consultant for Completion of A Maiden NI-43-101 Technical Report | 15 August 2013 | Kilo Goldmines Ltd. | Marketwired
Kilo Goldmines Ltd. is pleased to announce that on August 6th, the Company completed its planned 2013 drilling programme on the Somituri Project’s Imbo Licence.

Boart Longyear wins $70 million Kibali gold exploration services contract | 16 August 2013 | Mineweb
Drilling services company, Boart Longyear, has been awarded a major contract for exploration drilling services for the big Kibali gold project in the DRC.

Pulling Golden Levers | 16 August 2013 | Mining Weekly
New AngloGold Ashanti CEO has told the media of the revenue and cost-cutting levers he will be pulling in the next 18 months. Revenue will be leveraged by 550 000 oz of new gold from the Tropicana project, in Australia, and the Kibali project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo at a cost of below $700/oz. Cost will be cut by $482-million in 2014 by lowering project and exploration spend and reducing the 2 000 corporate headcount by 40% to 1 200, a reduction of 800 positions.

Uganda

Energy

Umeme Uganda First-Half Profit Increases on Power-Loss Reduction | 19 August 2013 | Bloomberg
Umeme Ltd., the Ugandan power distributor owned by Actis LLP, said first-half profit surged 53 percent as it added clients and lowered transmission losses.

Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility

Non-comprehensive overview and selected articles on legal and reputational issues relating to businesses operating in the Great Lakes Region 

DRC

EITI

Blocage du processus ITIE en RDC : le chef de l’Etat et le premier ministre appelés à se saisir du dossier | 14 August 2013 | Le Potentiel
Si la RDC ne résout pas dans le délai, un certain nombre de problèmes relevés dans son rapport 2011, pour le présenter au plus tard le 31 décembre 2013, elle sera exclue du processus Initiative pour la transparence des industries extractives (ITIE).

Les opérateurs miniers encouragent la transparence et la bonne gouvernance dans le secteur | 14 August 2013 | Le Potentiel
Le gouvernement de la République a intérêt à remettre de l’ordre dans le secteur minier. C’est le plaidoyer des opérateurs intervenant dans ce secteur porteur de croissance.

CSR

GlencoreXstrata promet des efforts en matière de droits de l’homme | 14 August 2013 | AWP (Suisse)
GlencoreXstrata promet des améliorations en matière de protection des droits de l’homme et de transparence. Souvent l’objet de critiques à ce sujet par le passé, le géant des matières premières a signé une déclaration d’intention en vue d’adhérer à l’initiative des “Principes volontaires sur la sécurité et les droits de l’homme”.

Isangi: une compagnie forestière finance la construction des centres de santé | 21 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Forest Company transformation (CFT) is to finance the construction of three health centers and two mills in the area of Luete located more than 250 km from Kisangani (Province Oriental). The company has given 56,000 U.S. dollars to local committees responsible for the sector to achieve these social works. Local committees and CFT signed a specification that gives the latter the ability to use the wood in this area for four years. However, civil society is not satisfied with the terms of this Agreement, which it considers not to be to the benefit of local populations.

Uganda

EITI

Briefing: The benefits for Uganda of joining the emerging global transparency standard for extractive industry revenues | 16 August 2013 | Global Witness
This paper summarizes the implications for Uganda of the new international transparency requirements for the extractive industries agreed in the US and EU, and by the EITI, and provides policy recommendations for Government.

Other

Congolese National Dialogue

Les concertations nationales, un espoir pour la paix dans l’Est de la RDC, selon Richard Muyej | 15 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
“National consultations are one of the ways required to restore peace in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said the Minister of the Interior, Richard Muyej Mangez, in Bukavu (South Kivu) on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The Interior Minister is on a mission to raise awareness about national consultations.

RDC: 14 députés de l’opposition remettent en cause les concertations nationales | 15 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Fourteen parliamentary opposition MPs have questioned the forthcoming national consultations established by order of President Joseph Kabila on June 26. They demand the amendment of the text taking into account the demands of the opposition, without which “true dialogue is not possible.”

Concertations nationales: le Renadhoc invite Joseph Kabila à gracier les prisonniers politiques  | 20 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
The National Network of NGOs on Human Rights (RENADHOC) has invited Joseph Kabila to pardon all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, as well as leaders of Congolese armed groups held in Congolese prisons during the national consultations, asserting that his measure would create a better national cohesion.

Concertations nationales: certaines organisations de la société civile se disent exclues | 19 August 2013 | Radio Okapi
Civil Society of the people, which claims a membership of around 150 organizations, has expressed regret at the exclusion of certain groups from the preparatory committee for national dialogue. This committee is composed of thirty members from political parties, civil society, public institutions and the Diaspora and will present its findings on Monday August 19.

Allegations of Rwandan state interference with civil society group

Rwanda: Takeover of Rights Group | 14 August 2013 | Human Rights Watch
Rwanda : HRW déplore la prise de contrôle de la LIPRODHOR | 15 August 2013 | La Voix de l’Amérique
HRW Should Not Undermine Rwanda’s Independent Civil Society | 16 August 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
According to Human Rights Watch, the leadership of the Rwandan League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights has been ousted because of its independent stance. “People believed to be favorable to the government have taken over the organization in what has become a typical state tactic to silence human rights defenders.”