BRIEFING

21 – 27 November 2012

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EDITORIAL

Tensions remained high in Goma, as the M23 continued to occupy the city. Political leaders flew to Kampala on the 26th of November to negotiate a resolution to fighting and to find a way to make the M23 withdraw. The summit decreed that the M23 had withdraw from territories in the eastern DRC within 48 hours. The African Union (AU) has called for the immediate implementation of the Kampala Summit decisions.

Bishop Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero, a leader of the M23, was initially reported to have said that a pull out from the city could not be a precondition for talks with the government, saying on Sunday that, “withdrawal from Goma should not be a prerequisite for talks but rather should come as the result of talks”. The M23 argued that they would not pull out unless their demands are met, i.e. that the government hold national talks and dissolve the electoral commission enacted by President Joseph Kabila.

By the 27th of November, however, a complete withdrawal within 48 hours was reported to have been agreed on by the M23 (i.e. Thursday the 29th), yet reports from different camps as to agreements over the control of Goma have remained inconsistent.

The U.N.’s top official in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Roger Meece, has told the U.N. Security Council that rebels are receiving weapons and equipment from outside the DRC. He did not name a specific country.

The UN Group of Experts’ report on the DRC was published this week. Consequently, the commander of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s land forces has been suspended pending an investigation.  General Gabriel Amisi was accused in the report of selling weapons to armed groups.

Rwanda’s involvement in the region’s insecurity continued to induce international reaction. For example, British aid for Rwanda may be cut next month after ministers admitted there was “credible and compelling” evidence of Rwandan state support for rebels operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Meanwhile, six rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have been killed and two captured in a fire exchange with the Rwandan army. This followed an attack by the Rwandan Army on the FDLR on November 27 morning. The government has said it will not be drawn into conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of the attacks.

Arms Trade and Security in the Great Lakes Region

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

Kampala talks over Eastern DRC question

DRC: Paths to peace in the Kivus | 21st November | IRIN

Central Africa: Great Lakes Leaders Arrive for Congo Crisis Meet | 24th November | The New Vision | allAfrica

Uganda: M23 Leader Arrives in Kampala for Talks | 23rd November | The Independant | allAfrica

RDC : Kinshasa et le M23 achoppent sur le retrait de Goma | 25th November | Afrik

Leaders of the Great Lakes region jetted into Uganda for the 5th Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) as the heads-of-state seek solutions to end the crisis in Congo. Colonel Sultani Makenga, the head of the M23 rebel group has arrived to Kampala for talks over the eastern DR Congo question.

DRC 

UN Group of Experts report on the DRC

Letter dated 12 November 2012 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo addressed to the President of the Security Council  | 21st November | UN

The UNSC have released the UN Group of Experts on the DRC’s 2012 report.

M23 being armed from outside DRC

UN Warns of ‘External Support’ of DRC Rebels | 21st November | VoA

The U.N.’s top official in the Democratic Republic of Congo has told the U.N. Security Council that rebels are receiving weapons and equipment from outside the DRC.

Amisi suspended

DRC President Suspends Army Chief | 23rd November | VoA

The commander of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s land forces has been suspended pending an investigation.  General Gabriel Amisi is accused in a United Nations report of selling weapons to armed groups.

The Mai-Mai and FDLR compete for mining areas in Shabunda

Congo-Kinshasa: Sud-Kivu – Les Maï-Mai et FDLR se disputent les zones minières à Shabunda | 26th November | Le Potentiel | allAfrica

Information from Shabunda in the province of South Kivu reported a strong recovery of the activities of the Mai-Mai Rahiya Mutomboki against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), for the control of mining areas.

Goma

M23 takes Goma airport

Uganda: M23 Takes Over Goma Airport As President Kabila Jets in Kampala | 20th November | The Independant | allAfrica

Rebel group M23 has announced their take over of Goma Airport, in the eastern part of the Congo. The group’s spokesman Col Vianney Kazarama confirmed this development saying “the town fell into their hands at 11:33 local time, despite the attack helicopters, and the heavy weapons, of the FARDC (Congo army).

Goma falls to M23

Central Africa: Rwanda, Uganda, DRC Demand M23 Withdraw | 22nd November | The New Times | allAfrica

Goma fell to the hands of the rebels on Tuesday, with minimal resistance from the DRC forces. Rwanda and Uganda have demanded the immediate withdrawal of M23 rebels from the City of Goma in Eastern DRC.

M23’s activity in Goma

Chute de Goma : la RDC en état d’alerte | 21st November | Afrik

Rebels take Goma and residents flee – in pictures | 23rd November | Guardian

M23 rebel fighters descend on Goma lakeside hotel | 23rd November | Guardian

Conditions in Goma

DRC: No power, little safe water in Goma | 22nd November | IRIN

Thirty-one bodies have been collected from streets in and around the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) city of Goma since rebels took it over on 20 November. Ten were government troops (FARDC), the rest, civilians, according to an NGO worker.

UNSC condemns M23 taking Goma

Congo: UN Security Council condemns Goma takeover by M23 rebels | 21st November | Guardian

Vote calls for rebels to pull back and disarm, while France criticises United Nations force for surrendering city

M23 take Sake

RDC : le M23 promeut la guerre à la population | 22nd November | Afrik

Congolese people flee town of Sake as fighting breaks out – in pictures | 22nd November | Guardian | Reliefweb

As rebels and government-allied militia fight for the town of Sake, the Congolese inhabitants fled to the safety of the camps in the east.

Colette Braekman on the rebellion

Goma fait la morte face aux rebelles | 26th November | Le Soir – Colette Braeckman

Trop facile de crier haro sur la Monusco | 26th November | Le Soir – Colette Braeckman

Cinq questions après la chute de Goma | 21st November | Le Soir – Colette Braeckman

Des rebelles dans Goma abandonnée | 21st November | Le Soir – Colette Braeckman

Nord Kivu: vers un basculement? | 22nd November | Le Soir – Colette Braeckman

Forces

M23

Who is the M23? | 25th November | Congo Siasa

Congo rebels: the key questions answered | 22nd November | Guardian

Goma has fallen to rebels. Who are they, and what does it mean for peace prospects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

M23 vs FARDC

Congo’s army accused of rape and looting as M23 rebels win image war | 26th November | Guardian

Congolese soldiers ‘drunk, angry and paranoid’ in contrast to apparent order of rebels, but both sides accused of abuses

Complains about MONUSCO

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Smuggling Mission in DR Congo, Conspiracy Against Rwanda | 22nd November | News of Rwanda | allAfrica

Despite the fact that there are 22,000 UN peace keepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a well equipped force namely MONUSCO which is said to be one of the largest UN deployment in the world; Congolese themselves complain that the force has literally done nothing in keeping peace in the region but has rather sustained peace in pieces.

Rape in DRC

Rape in Congo is not a myth – if anything, it is under-reported | 21st November | Guardian

A report claiming aid agencies exaggerate rape stories for publicity is untrue, unhelpful and out of date.

DRC army accused of abuses

DRC Army Accused of Abuses During Retreat from Goma | 24th November | VoA

Goma Crisis Shines Light on Bankrupt Military Policies in the DRC | 27th November | IPI | Reliefweb

Civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say soldiers from the Congolese army have been looting homes and raping residents in towns under their control, as they retreat from M23 rebels.

Incidents in Eastern DRC

Meece calls for political solution

UN peacekeeping chief: ‘blue helmets’ to stay in Goma, political solution needed for eastern DR Congo | 21st November | UN

Highlighting the active role of United Nations ‘blue helmets’ in protecting civilians across the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the world body’s peacekeeping chief today emphasized the need for a political solution to the activities involving the 23 March Movement (M23) rebel group in the area.

Congo PM Press briefing

Communiqué officiel du gouvernement de la Republique democratique du Congo | 21st November | Afrik

Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mapon Matata Ponyo, held a press briefing today before the organs of national and international press, about the recent unrest in the east.

Conflict commentaries

Deja vu in eastern Congo, crucible of conflict | 22nd November | Mining Weekly

Humanitarian crisis looming in Congo as thousand flee fighting | 22nd November | Guardian

Commentaries on the past, and future implications, of the crisis in Eastern DRC.

Eastern Congo: Why Stabilisation Failed | 22nd November | ICG | Human Security Gateway

Kinshasa vs. M23’s ultimatum

RDC : Kinshasa face à l’ultimatum du M23 | 23rd November | Afrik

After the towns of Goma and Sake, the March 23 Movement (M23) intends to continue its path towards Bukavu before, perhaps heading to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Everything will depend on the decision of the Congolese authorities to accept or not to negotiate with the rebels an ultimatum by the latter to stop the hostilities.

UN and Eastern DRC

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Under Pressure Over DR Congo | 24th November | The Independant | allAfrica

The Secretary-General vaguely called “on all relevant States to use their influence on the M23 to bring about an end to the attacks”

FARDC in Minova

Congo-Kinshasa: Nord-kivu – les FARDC renforcent leurs positions à Minova | 24th November | Radio Okapi | allAfrica

The spokesman of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), Colonel Olivier Hamuli said on Friday, November the 23rd, that more than three thousand five hundred men were gathered in the town of Minova, on the border between North and South Kivu. These soldiers come from Sake and other localities which have fallen into the hands of the rebels M23.

Kampala summit urges rebels to stop war

DR Congo summit urges rebels to ‘stop war’, leave Goma | 24th November | Agence France-Presse | Reliefweb

Regional leaders called on DR Congo rebel group M23 Saturday to end hostilities and relinquish a key eastern town it seized in an advance that has sparked fears of a wider conflict.

Gaza vs DRC

Gaza grabs the headlines as Congo once more descends into chaos | 25th November | Guardian

Conflict in the Middle East is overshadowing the bloody events in central Africa.

Rebels refuse demands to pull out of Goma

Congo peace talks elusive as Kinshasa, rebels dig in | 25th November | Agence France-Presse | Reliefweb

Congolese rebels on Sunday rejected demands by regional governments to pull out of the eastern city of Goma to allow for peace talks aimed at preventing a wider conflict and halting a spiralling humanitarian catastrophe.

Kagame and Sassou Nguesso call on the M23 and DRC to respect the resolutions of the ICGLR

Afrique Centrale: Paul Kagame et Sassou Nguesso appellent le M23 et la RDC à respecter les résolutions de la CIRGL | 25th November | Radio Okapi | allAfrica

AU calls for implementation of Kampala summit decisions

Tanzania: AU Seeks Faster DR Congo Solutions | 26th November | Tanzania Daily News | allAfrica

THE African Union (AU) has called for the immediate implementation of the Kampala Summit decisions on the situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Ban welcomes Kampala summit output

Est de la RDC : Ban se félicite de l’appel à déposer les armes lancé au M23 par les dirigeants des Grands Lacs | 26th November | UN News Service | Reliefweb

Ban Ki-moon, on Monday, welcomed the joint statement of Presidents Kabila, Kagame and Museveni of the Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, respectively, and the outcome of the Conference International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which was held on November 24 in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

M23 given a deadline to exit Goma

DR Congo fighters given deadline to exit Goma | 26th November | AlJazeera

Bishop Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero, political leader of the M23 armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has said that a pullout from the eastern city of Goma could not be a precondition for talks with the government. Runiga Lugerero’s comments come after a decision by a regional summit on Sunday, that said the group had until Monday to withdraw from territories in the eastern DRC. Speaking to the AFP news agency on Sunday, Lugerero said: “withdrawal from Goma should not be a prerequisite for talks but rather should come as the result of talks”.

M23 agrees to withdraw from Goma and Sake

RDC: le M23 s’est engagé à un retrait total de Goma d’ici à jeudi midi (chef d’état-major ougandais) | 27th November |  | Reliefweb

DR Congo rebels pledge to quit Goma by week’s end | 27th November | Agence-France Presse | Reliefweb

Congolese rebels said Tuesday they had agreed to pull out of the key eastern city of Goma by week’s end following a round of diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region, but Kinshasa met the pledge with caution.

M23’s demands before pullout

DR Congo rebels set conditions before pullout | 27th November | AlJazeera | allAfrica

M23 rebels controlling the eastern city of Goma in the DR Congo have said they will not pull out unless their demands are met. Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from Goma, said the rebels were demanding that the government hold national talks and dissolve the electoral commission enacted by President Joseph Kabila.

New fighting in Kibumba, north of Goma

Congo-Kinshasa: Nouveaux combats à Kibumba, au nord de Goma | 27th November |  | allAfrica

Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting between rebels and armed groups M23, Tuesday morning, November 27. The clashes occurred in the east, in the region of Kibumba, a town on the border with Rwanda, located about twenty kilometers from Goma.

Uganda

UPDF Accused of Executing Poachers

Uganda: UPDF Accused of Executing Poachers | 27th November | The Observer | allAfrica

Soldiers deployed in Murchison Falls national park have been accused of carrying out extra-judicial killings of suspected poachers. The soldiers are reported to have killed at least 25 people from Nguedo and Buliisa sub-counties in Buliisa district between March and September this year. All the victims are suspected poachers, and their families say they can’t trace their bodies. The UPDF offers back-up for game rangers in the park.

Mosques Under Watch After Police Arrest ADF Suspect

Uganda: Mosques Under Watch After Police Arrest ADF Suspect | 25th November | The Observer | allAfrica

Mosques in Masaka district are under tight police and army surveillance, after a suspected rebel recruit named them as recruitment centres for the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group alleged to have bases in eastern DR Congo.

Museveni

Uganda: Then & Now – Museveni Is Mentally Ill, Says Binaisa | 25th November | The Observer | allAfrica

Museveni accused of being mentally ill.

Rwanda

FDLR attacks in Rwanda

Rwanda: FDLR Attack ‘Won’t Draw Rwanda Into DRC Crisis’ | 27th November | allAfrica

Rwanda: FDLR Rebels Attack Rwanda | 27th November | News of Rwanda | allAfrica

Rwanda Will Not Allow FDLR Attack to Derail the ICGLR Peace Process for the DRC | 27th November | Government of Rwanda | allAfrica

Rwanda: FDLR Attack ‘Won’t Draw Rwanda Into DRC Crisis’ | 27th November | The New Times | allAfrica

Attaque des rebelles du FDLR contre le Rwanda, selon Kigali | 27th November | Agence France-Presse | Reliefweb

Rwanda says Hutu extremists attack it from DR Congo | 27th November | Agence France-Presse | Reliefweb

Six rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have been killed and two captured in a fire exchange with the Rwandan army after FDLR attacked the Rwandan Army, on November 27 morning. The government has said it will not be drawn into conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of the attacks.

Aid to Rwanda cut

UK may cut Rwanda aid over support for DRC rebels | 22nd November | Guardian

Evidence of Rwandan state support for M23 rebels ‘credible and compelling’, ministers say

Rwanda’s seat on the Security Council called into question

Rwanda’s support for Congo rebels calls UN security council seat into question | 22nd November | Guardian

Should a country backing a rebellion in a neighbouring land be part of a group tasked with maintaining peace and stability?

US should support sanctions against Rwanda

DR Congo: US Should Urge Rwanda to End M23 Support | 20th November | Human Rights Watch | allAfrica

The United States government should publicly support sanctions against Rwandan officials backing the armed group M23, which has been responsible for widespread war crimes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. M23 rebels, whose commanders have been implicated in serious abuses, captured the city of Goma on November 20, 2012.

Burundi

New rebel group in Burundi

Burundi: New Rebel Group Strikes in Burundi | 27th November | Think Africa Press | allAfrica

Late last month, a group of armed insurgents crossed into Burundi from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and attacked three communes in the north of the country. Responsibility for the campaign was claimed by a new rebel group calling itself the Murundi People’s Front, ‘the Saviours’ (FPM-Abatabazi). The group said it was opposed to the increasingly authoritarian regime of Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Refugee and IDP Reports

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

DRC 

Concern for citizens in Goma

DRC – The taking of Goma by the M23 : our organisations demand protection for civilians | 22nd November | FIDH

Crisis Mounts in DRC: 200,000 Displaced in Past 10 Days | 27th November | Action Ag | Reliefweb

As Goma is falling to the rebels, FIDH and its member organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are deeply concerned as to the fate of the populations. We demand that the parties to the conflict strictly respect international humanitarian law, for MONUSCO to fulfil its mandate of protection, and for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take charge of this situation.

Refugees fleeing to Zambia

Congo-Kinshasa: ‘We Will Address Influx of Congolese Refugees’ | 26th November | Times of Zambia | allAfrica

ZAMBIA is on high alert to address the influx of refugees fleeing renewed clashes between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Government forces and the M23 rebels, Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has said.

UNOCHA humanitarian reports

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province Orientale N° 43/12, 20 novembre 2012 | 20th November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

North Kivu Situation Report No. 12, 26 November 2012 | 26th November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

North Kivu Situation Report No. 11, 23 November 2012 | 23rd November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’information humanitaire – Province du Katanga – 19 novembre 2012 | 19th November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Democratic Republic of Congo: North Kivu Situation Report No. 10, 22 November 2012 | 22nd November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Sud-Kivu N° 47/12, 22 novembre 2012 | 22nd November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

North Kivu Situation Report No. 9, 21 November 2012 | 21st November | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Eastern Africa Displaced Populations Report – Issue 12 (31 March – 30 September 2012) | 30th September | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Rwanda

Zambia requested to extradite genocide suspects

Rwanda Seeks Extradition of Six Genocide Suspects Living in Zambia | 26th November | Hirondelle News Agency | allAfrica

Rwanda has requested the government of Zambia to extradite six people suspected of taking key role in the 1994 genocide, according to Times of Zambia, a national daily newspaper.

Burundi 

Burundian Refugees

In-Depth: More to it than just land – lessons from Burundi | 21st November | IRIN

IOM Appeals for Funds to Return, Reintegrate Former Refugees from Burundi | 27th November | IOM | Reliefweb

UNHCR Burundi bulletin spécial sur Mtabila No. 7 | 25th November | UNHCR | Reliefweb

More than half a million Burundian refugees have returned home over the last 10 years as the effects of a 2000 peace accord took hold. Many have returned to their land, and most have received assistance with shelter, food, health and education.

Justice and Tribunals 

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

Bemba Trial

 Central African Republic: Witness Describes Disciplinary Procedures in Bemba’s Militia | 26th November | Bemba Trial Website | Human Rights

Watch
On Monday, the latest witness to testify on behalf of former Congolese senator Jean-Pierre Bemba at the International Criminal Court (ICC) stated that the accused set up a court martial in 2002 to uphold military discipline among his soldiers. Furthermore, the witness who testified under the pseudonym ‘Witness D04-016’ stated that discipline among Mr. Bemba’s soldiers was “good” and in accordance with a strict code of conduct.

DRC

ICC might consider M23’s crimes

Agence Hirondelle, 21.11.12: La Procureure de la CPI « examine » les crimes du M23 | 21st November | Hirondelle

DRC criminals’ impunity

End the impunity of Congo’s war criminals | 23rd November | Guardian

The soldiers who marched into Goma this week are led by the world’s worst violators of human rights. They must be held responsible

Rwanda 

Bugingo sentence

Rwanda: Norwegian Prosecution Seeks Maximum Sentence for Genocide Suspect Bugingo | 27th November | The New Times | allAfrica

The Norwegian prosecution has asked the court to hand Sadi Bugingo, a sentence of 21 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Bugingo, a Rwandan is currently standing trial in the Norwegian capital, Oslo where he is accused of being responsible for the death of 2000 Tutsis in the former Kibungo province.

Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region

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

Illegal timber trade 

Uganda: Timber Smuggling in Congo Worries East Africa | 27th November | The Observer | allAfrica

Uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is beginning to worry countries in the Great Lakes region. A new report, which prompted the first ever regional workshop on timber trade within the region, reveals how Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan are exploiting the weak administration in eastern DRC to illegally trade in timber – something that may have everlasting implications on the region.

Mining-induced displacement and resettlement

Applying the Concept of Human Security to Research on the Consequences of Mining-Induced Displacement and Resettlement | 27th November | University of Geneva | Human Security Gateway

According to a report published in recent years, developments in the mining industry are the cause of about 10.3 percent of all displacements in the world. This means that more than a million people per year may be resettled as a result of resource extraction in various parts of the globe. Countries displaying the greatest growth rate of this phenomenon include India, China, Ghana, and many other African counties.

DRC 

Main problem in DRC is governance

Congo-Kinshasa: Conflict Minerals Not Fueling M23 Rebellion | 27th November | OSISA | allAfrica

The capture of Goma by M23 rebel forces is the latest demonstration of the ineffectiveness of the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its army (the FARDC). Whatever the political machinations behind the military’s most recent capitulation may be, the overarching themes are the longstanding institutional and governance weaknesses of Congo’s central authorities – weaknesses that the Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) has highlighted multiple times in its reports and analyses.

Uganda

Ugandan locals on oil contracts

Uganda: Locals Cry Foul Over Oil Contracts | 27th November | The Observer | allAfrica

Dennis Kamurasi is the vice chairperson of the Association of Uganda Oil and Gas Service Providers, an association at the forefront of ensuring the inclusion of Ugandan companies in the petroleum industry. Edward Ssekika spoke to him about local participation in the petroleum industry.

Oil regulation in East Africa

East African Oil – Hard Going | 21st November | This is Africa | allAfrica

Regulatory uncertainty around the buying, selling and development of oil assets is impacting independent and small scale oil companies in East Africa.

Oil licences in 2013

Ugandan Firms to Bid for Oil Licences | 25th November | The Observer | allAfrica

Ugandan companies are among those in a long line of investors waiting to bid for oil exploration licences when government finally issues a new round of licensing sometime early next year, according to the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

Dam in Mbale

Uganda: One Dam Too Far | 26th November | RNW | allAfrica

It’s been an intense past month for residents of Bulusambu in Uganda’s Mbale district. Some villagers here have literally taken up arms as they protest the proposed construction of a dam on the River Manafwa.

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

Industry hopes fighting will not to copper mines in Katanga

Congo miners pin hopes on distance from rebel push | 25th November | Mineweb

Industry sources and analysts believe the fighting is unlikely to spread far beyond the East of the country and certainly not as far south as the major copper mines of Katanga.

Banro mine safe

Banro’s DRC mine not affected by rebel action | 22nd November | Mining Weekly

Central Africa-focused Banro on Wednesday said its operations in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were unaffected by a current flare-up of security issues around the city of Goma.

Kalukundi Copper-Cobalt Project

Additional Drilling Results at Africo’s Kalukundi Copper-Cobalt Project | 26th November | Marketwire

Assessment Work Is Under Way to Evaluate the New Resource Potential of the Kalukundi Project Based on the Latest Drilling Data and Assay Results

Global financial markets should take note of DRC’s conflict

Congo’s Conflicts Could Have Dire Consequences Globally | 26th November | Cobalt Investing News

CNBC reported that the ongoing conflicts in the DRC could have widespread implications because the vast supply of resources could be threatened. As quoted in the market report: “Global financial markets don’t pay much attention to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They should. The central African country produces major quantities of tin and tungsten, about half of the world’s cobalt output and about three percent of the world’s copper and gold, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.”

Randgold to expand in East DRC

Congo-Kinshasa: En perte de vitesse en Afrique du Sud – Le minier Anglogold part en assaut de l’or de la Province Orientale | 27th November | Le Potentiel | allAfrica

AngloGold, the South African mining giant, plans to intensify its activities in the DRC to face the fall its activities in South Africa.

Mining firms in DRC

Rebels Continue to March on DRC |  |  | Cobalt Investing News

Bloomberg reported that unrest continues in the DRC as rebels advance towards the south, after capturing the eastern city of Goma. As quoted in the market report: “Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) of the of the U.S., Baar, Switzerland-based Glencore International Plc (GLEN), and Minmetals Resources Ltd., based in Hong Kong, have copper and cobalt projects in the country. Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU) are investing in gold mines in the country, which is about the size of Western Europe.”

Loncor Unaffected

Loncor’s Exploration Activities Unaffected by Current Unrest in Goma, DRC | 22nd November | Marketwire

Loncor Resources Inc (“Loncor” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:LN)(NYSE MKT:LON)(NYSE Amex:LON) wishes to state that exploration activities at its high priority Ngayu project have been unaffected by the recent instability in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Banro comments on Goma

Banro Comments on Issues in Goma, DRC | 21st November | Marketwire

Banro Corporation (“Banro” or the “Company”) (NYSE Amex:BAA) (NYSE MKT:BAA) (TSX:BAA) makes a brief comment on the security issues in the NE Democratic Republic of the Congo. Banro’s operations are located some 200 kilometres southwest of Goma and have not been affected by this disruption in any manner; however the media attention has clearly created concern amongst investors and impacted negatively on the share price. Banro has a number of alternative supply routes should the current borders be affected, which is not the case at present.

Uganda

Tullow claims to respect high environmental standards

Africa: Conserving the Environment a Must for Oil Companies Prospecting in Africa | 27th November | The Independent | allAfrica

Oil companies prospecting for oil and gas in Africa need to ensure the very highest standards in environmental risk management, Tullow Oil’s director of exploration, Angus McCoss said recently.

Compensation for oil affected communities

Delay in passing oil laws affects compensations | 20th November | Daily Monitor

Residents say since 2009,Tullow Oil has not fully fulfilled its pledge of compensating those affected by exploration.

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 

LSE workshop on achievements, challenges and opportunities in business and human rights

500 Days After Ruggie | 23rd November | LSE

Uganda

Tariff Barriers

Uganda: EAC to Punish Member States Enforcing Non-Tariff Barriers | 26th November | The New Vision | allAfrica

A draft law which will punish countries that fail to implement agreed upon mechanisms to eliminate trade barriers has been submitted at the regional Parliament.