{"id":22539,"date":"2021-05-06T10:12:21","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T08:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/\/?post_type=weekly-briefing&p=22539"},"modified":"2021-05-06T10:30:18","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T08:30:18","slug":"ipis-briefing-april-2021-congos-oil-saga-a-story-of-shadowy-deals-environmental-burden-and-civil-society-protest","status":"publish","type":"weekly-briefing","link":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/nl\/weekly-briefing\/ipis-briefing-april-2021-congos-oil-saga-a-story-of-shadowy-deals-environmental-burden-and-civil-society-protest\/","title":{"rendered":"IPIS Briefing April 2021 – Congo\u2019s Oil Saga: A story of shadowy deals, environmental burden, and civil society protest"},"content":{"rendered":"

The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade.\u00a0 Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS\u2019 areas of research.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In focus: Congo\u2019s Oil Saga: A story of shadowy deals, environmental burden, and civil society protest.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the news: In Tigray, Sexual Violence Has Become A Weapon Of War; Kenya Opens New Small Arms Factory; The Death Of Chadian President Idris D\u00e9by Itno Threatens Stability In The Region.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

New subscribers can register here<\/a> to receive the briefing and updates on IPIS\u2019 new maps and reports.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This briefing is produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of IPIS and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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IN FOCUS<\/span><\/h1>\n

CONGO\u2019S OIL SAGA: A STORY OF SHADOWY DEALS, ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN, AND CIVIL SOCIETY PROTEST<\/h1>\n

Theodore Trefon noted in 2016 that \u201cOil has become big business in the DRC and the subject of major deal making \u2013 more often than not by dubious partners. It is shrouded in secrecy and controlled by the presidency<\/em>\u201d (1). The oil and gas sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranked 84th<\/sup> (among 89 assessments) in the 2017 Resource Governance Index<\/a>, as a result of \u201ca failing enabling environment and lack of transparency in revenue management\u201d. The DRC has a proven oil reserve of 180.000.000 barrels, although its total oil potential is estimated to be over 5 billion barrels. Oil is currently only produced offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, at a daily rate of about 25.000 barrels.<\/p>\n

However, since several years oil companies are exploring potential onshore hydrocarbon reserves in the DRC. Some of these oil deposits are located in environmentally sensitive areas, such as protected national parks. The Congolese government has been (and still is) criticized for granting oil exploration permits in these vulnerable zones, by international and local non-governmental and civil society organisations, as well as by local communities. More in general, it seems that the DRC will continue to invest in the fossil fuels industry, notwithstanding the increased worldwide awareness of climate change.<\/p>\n

In February 2021 Congolese civil society and environmental organisations, some of them active in the province of North Kivu, addressed an open letter<\/a> to president F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi, requesting the cancellation of all oil exploration and production permits in Virunga National Park, and to abandon the plan, which the previous Minister of Hydrocarbons Rubens Mikindo (UDPS) had announced in January 2021, to launch tenders for 19 new oil blocks (9 in the Central Congo basin, 3 in the coastal Congo basin, 4 in Lake Tanganyika and 3 in Lake Kivu).<\/p>\n

The authors of the open letter point out that oil exploitation in Virunga would endanger the rich and unique eco-systems, and negatively affect health and livelihood of local communities. They argue that by granting oil licences the DRC would make a non-sustainable choice at the very moment that global awareness of the importance of renewable energy transition is growing.<\/p>\n

Virunga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in North Kivu that stretches along the border with Uganda and Rwanda, comprising the northern Rwenzori Mountains, the centrally located Lake Edward (that straddles the border with Uganda) and southern tropical forests and volcanoes (where the endangered mountain gorilla lives). School children and teachers in Bukavu, South Kivu, protested in support of the civil society\u2019s demand for the cancellation of oil permits in Virunga National Park, at the occasion of Global Climate Strike on 19 maart 2021.<\/p>\n

Already in September 2018, Alliance pour les Moyens d\u2019Existence Verts<\/em><\/a>, a <\/em>consortium of civil society organisations from North Kivu, submitted a petition against any future oil production projects in the national parks of Virunga and Salonga (the latter another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the Congo Basin, harbouring an important bonobo population), which was signed by about 23.000 members of local communities in North Kivu.<\/p>\n

The immediate cause of the 2018 protest was the intention of the Kabila-government to declassify parts of the Virunga and Salonga Parks<\/a> by redrawing boundaries, in order to open up these protected areas to oil exploration. Early 2019<\/a> and end 2020<\/a>, fishermen of Lake Edward, united in the association F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des Comit\u00e9s des P\u00eacheurs Individuels du Lac Edouard <\/em>(FECOPEILE), asked newly elected president F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi, to prohibit oil extraction in Virunga National Park in general, and in Lake Edward in particular, and to safeguard local communities.<\/p>\n

In the past two decades the Congolese government signed controversial agreements with several international oil companies. In 2007 it granted UK-based SOCO International a concession on oil Block V that overlaps a part of Virunga National Park (including Lake Edward). The company started to conduct seismic surveys in Virunga in 2014. According to Global Witness<\/a>, SOCO\u2019s oil exploration activities in Virunga were accompanied by corrupt practices and harassment of local activists and communities. Eventually, under local and international pressure SOCO decided to stop its oil activities in Virunga.<\/p>\n

The French company Total together with South African SacOil also obtained a concession (oil Block III) in an area that partly lies within Virunga Park. Total declared already in 2013 that it would not start oil drilling in the national park. The fact that Total committed to withdraw from Virunga, did not deter the company to explore other controversial opportunities: it started operating the Tilenga project for development of oil resources in Uganda\u2019s Lake Albert region, a project that might impact negatively Murchison Falls National Park<\/a> and local farmer communities, and that is opposed by French and Ugandan non-governmental organisations. Oil produced by Total will be transported to the Tanzanian port of Tanga by a new cross-border pipeline that will be constructed by East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). (See IPIS Briefing October 2020<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Early 2018 the Compagnie<\/em> Mini\u00e8re Congolaise SPRL<\/em> (CoMICo), a firm owned by the shadowy UK-registered Central Oil and Gas Ltd. (40%), obtained presidential approval for a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). The agreement allowed CoMiCo to start exploration of three oil blocks in the Central Congo Basin (Cuvette Centrale<\/em>), one of them overlapping parts of Salonga National Park: Global Witness<\/a> revealed that this deal was legally questionable.<\/p>\n

In the final weeks of Kabila\u2019s presidency, another controversial deal was closed: a PSA that was already signed in 2007 between the South African company DIG (Divine Inspiration Group) Oil<\/a> and the Congolese state, for three oil blocks in the Central Congo Basin including a field that coincides spatially with Salonga National Park, received presidential approval in December 2018.<\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, also the Israeli businessman Dan Gertler has been showing up in the oil chapter of Congo\u2019s ongoing natural resources saga. Gertler, a close friend of former president Joseph Kabila, built a fortune by closing highly questionable mining and oil deals in the DRC (2). It is telling that the Biden-administration recently reimposed sanctions on Gertler for corruption in DRC\u2019s mining sector. The controversial billionaire was involved in two geopolitically sensitive oil deals: one concerns offshore oil blocks in a zone of the Atlantic Ocean that has been the subject of border issues between the DRC and Angola; the other is about oil blocks in the region of Lake Albert, which is located on the border between the DRC and Uganda.<\/p>\n

Nessergy<\/a>, a company owned by Dan Gertler\u2019s holding company Fleurette Group, signed in 2006 an agreement with the Congolese government, granting it rights to offshore oil blocks for about 500.000$. Nessergy\u2019s oil rights were sold back in 2012 to the Congolese and Angolese governments for a hundred of times higher price, a transaction that according to Global Witness, lacked transparency. DRC and Angola had started negotiations to establish a so-called economic Common Interest Zone, to settle issues over disputed oil-rich maritime territory: Global Witness stated that the oil rights of Nessergy accounted for half of the Common Interest Zone. The agreement on the Common Interest Zone remained dead letter for a long time, but early 2020, president Tshisekedi and his Angolese colleague Joao Louren\u00e7o restarted negotiations about joint oil exploration in this common area.<\/p>\n

Trefon (Congo\u2019s Environmental Paradox<\/em>, p. 109-110) notes that exploration licences regarding oil blocks I and II on the Congolese side of Lake Albert have been granted over the years to different consortia. In 2006 the oil blocks were granted to UK-based Tullow Oil, a company also active at the Ugandan side of Lake Albert (besides Tullow, also Total and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation are exploring at the Ugandan side of the lake); in 2008 a deal was signed with DIG Oil; and in 2010 the Congolese government signed a contract about these blocks with Caprikat and FoxWhelp, two obscure companies which are registered in the Virgin Islands and are linked to Dan Gertler.<\/p>\n

Trefon explains the rescission of the contract with Tullow from a geo-strategic point of view, arguing that \u2018it was a deliberate strategic move to undermine Ugandan capacity to move forward with prospecting and ultimate drilling\u2019 (the relationship between the DRC and Uganda has gone sour as the result of border disputes such as in the region of Lake Albert). Dubious oil agreements that were signed by Kabila\u2019s administration, have left an unpleasant legacy for the Tshisekedi government. In November 2018 the International Chambre of Commerce in Paris ordered the Congolese government to pay $617m to South African DIG Oil (3).<\/p>\n

The company blamed the Congolese state that it took more than 10 years to get presidential approval for contracts for oil blocks in the Cuvette Centrale,<\/em> preventing the company to start exploration, and that block I in Lake Albert, for which DIG Oil previously signed a contract with the Congolese government, was afterwards awarded to Caprikat and Foxwhelp. According to information obtained by Africa Intelligence (15\/03\/2021)<\/a>, some members of the inner circle of president Tshisekedi, including the new Minister of Finance Nicolas Kazadi (UDPS), prefer a negotiating strategy, instead of continuing the legal battle. Kazadi seems to be involved in negotiating a \u2018deal\u2019 with DIG Oil, which would reduce the compensation from $617m to $300m, in exchange for new oil exploring permits. Africa Intelligence recently revealed in its issue of 13\/04\/2021<\/a>, that Kazadi has familial ties with Nozi Mwamba, founder and shareholder of DIG Oil.<\/p>\n

Though some of his (ex-)ministers seem to be involved in potentially dubious oil deals, or have been promoting oil exploration in environmentally sensitive area, president Tshisekedi confirmed at the Leaders\u2019 Summit on Climate 2021<\/a>, 22-23 April, the DRC\u2019s commitment to contribute to the global fight against climate change, in the context of sustainable development and poverty reduction.<\/p>\n

The new minister of Hydrocarbons, Didier Budimbu, has the difficult task to improve governance, transparency and profitability of the Congolese oil sector. The question remains if he will be able (or willing) to outline a hydrocarbon policy, that takes into account concerns about global warming in general, and endangered Congolese eco-systems in particular.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Erik Gobbers<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(1) Trefon, T. (2016). Congo\u2019s Environmental Paradox: Potential and Predation in a Land of Plenty. <\/em>London: Zed Books.<\/p>\n

(2) The State vs the people: Governance, mining and the transitional regime in the Democratic Republic of Congo<\/em><\/a>. Amsterdam: Fatal Transactions.<\/p>\n

(3) Judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal (DIGOIL v. DRC)<\/a>, 7 November 2018.<\/p>\n

(4) Photo credit: WWF.<\/p>\n

FURTHER READING<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Threat to Africa\u2019s parks<\/a><\/span> | April 2021 | Le Monde diplomatique<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Powerful oil companies have set their sights on the huge potential reserves under Sub-Saharan Africa\u2019s wildlife sanctuaries, which will be far cheaper to exploit than deep offshore deposits. Resistance from civil society and NGOs can do little to stop them.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rooting for our forests<\/a><\/span> | 9 October 2020 | Transparency International<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We take forests for granted. We forget they\u2019re the reason we breathe, until they burn. We don\u2019t know of all the ways they keep us safe, until we\u2019re sick. We ignore how our way of life threatens them, until they’re gone.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Oil rights in Salonga National Park could be null and void, Global Witness analysis reveals<\/a><\/span> | 1 February 2019 | Global Witness<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Global Witness reveals today that an opaque Guernsey-owned company\u2019s oil rights threatening a protected national park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could be null and void, according to our legal analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Congo Basin forest loss dominated by increasing smallholder clearing<\/a><\/span> | 7 November 2018 | Science Advances<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A regional assessment of forest disturbance dynamics from 2000 to 2014 was performed for the Congo Basin countries using time-series satellite data. Area of forest loss was estimated and disaggregated by predisturbance forest type and direct disturbance driver. An estimated 84% of forest disturbance area in the region is due to small-scale, nonmechanized forest clearing for agriculture. Annual rates of small-scale clearing for agriculture in primary forests and woodlands doubled between 2000 and 2014, mirroring increasing population growth. Smallholder clearing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone accounted for nearly two-thirds of total forest loss in the basin.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Congo to Destroy UNESCO World Heritage Sites in search for Oil<\/a><\/span> | 11 October 2018 | African Exponent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Congo\u2019s Virunga National Park, the oldest national park in Africa and the Salonga National Park, home to endangered Gorillas have been handed over by Congo’s President to a UK oil company, Soco, to be destroyed for oil exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DR Congo explores oil drilling allowed in wildlife parks<\/a><\/span> | 30 June 2018 | BBC<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Democratic Republic of Congo government is looking into whether to allow oil exploration in two protected wildlife parks, Virunga and Salonga. The move is strongly opposed by environmental activists, who say drilling would place wildlife at risk and contribute to global warming.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Oil Extraction Imperils Africa’s Great Lake<\/a><\/span> | 4 November 2016 | Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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An international group of scientists sound the alarm in Science about the plans to extract oil and gas from the African Great Lakes. 70 researchers from 17 countries, including 10 Belgians, express their concerns about possible oil and gas extraction in the Great Lakes region in East Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

IN THE NEWS<\/span><\/h1>\n

BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS<\/span><\/h2>\n

Could a UN treaty force mining companies to behave responsibly?<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | Open Democracy<\/span><\/p>\n

In June 2020, a statement signed by more than 200 organizations around the world publicly denounced transnational mining companies for ignoring the threat of the pandemic and continuing to operate as normal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas<\/a> (pdf) | April 2021 | OECD<\/span><\/p>\n

As due diligence matures and grows to cover mineral supply chains across the globe, policymakers, stakeholders, and industry are looking for data to inform their decision-making. The application of this Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (M&E Framework) will improve understanding of how due diligence is being implemented and if it is helping to achieve the aims of the DDG \u2014 and, if not, why. Like most policy interventions, to date the results of due diligence in mineral supply chains appear mixed, with progress, shortcomings and ambiguous outcomes spread across multiple dimensions. This is where the real value of the M&E Framework lies; to make sense of the mechanisms by which the policy environment and uptake of due diligence bring about impacts, particularly in mineral producing countries and communities. The aim, in turn, is to generate actionable data that can help stakeholders scale up what\u2019s working and address what isn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Swiss End Sponsor Deal With Glencore on Reputation Concerns<\/a> | 24 April 2021 | Bloomberg<\/span><\/p>\n

Switzerland\u2019s Department of Foreign Affairs has ended sponsorship agreements with dozens of companies including mining and trading giant Glencore Plc because of image concerns, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

RDC : des sujets chinois accus\u00e9s d\u2019exploiter \u201cabusivement\u201d les minerais et de \u201ctorturer\u201d leurs employ\u00e9s en Ituri<\/a> | 24 April 2021 | L’Interview<\/span><\/p>\n

Des sujets chinois sont accus\u00e9s d\u2019exploiter abusivement des mati\u00e8res pr\u00e9cieuses dans la province de l\u2019Ituri \u00e0 l\u2019Est de la R\u00e9publique d\u00e9mocratique du Congo. En territoire de Mambasa par exemple, la convention pour le respect des droits de l\u2019homme (CRDH) d\u00e9nonce \u00e9galement des tortures dont sont victimes les employ\u00e9s de ces Chinois.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gold refiners ‘seemingly ignore’ conflict and human rights red flags<\/span><\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Investment Week<\/span><\/p>\n

Precious metals investors are likely to be exposed to companies not carrying out the \u201cmost basic checks\u201d of imported gold, which could be supporting those who mine gold illegally, according to civil society organisation Global Witness.<\/span><\/p>\n

EU Drives a New Approach to Supply Chain Sustainability<\/span><\/a> | 22 April 2021 | Navex Global | JD Supra<\/span><\/p>\n

In a recent vote, the EU Parliament backed a legislative initiative paving the way for a new EU directive on Corporate Due Diligence and Corporate Accountability. As part of this initiative, lawmakers called for the urgent adoption of an EU-wide regulation that will require companies to identify, address and remedy the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in their supply chains. A new law is expected to follow in the coming months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corporate Human Rights Responsibility \u2013 Why a strong Supply Chain Act is important<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | HRW<\/span><\/p>\n

On February 12, German government ministers put forward a draft law on corporate human rights due diligence in supply chains. On March 3, the German cabinet adopted the proposal, and it will soon be debated in parliament. And on March 8, the European Parliament made a call to \u201curgently adopt binding requirements\u201d in the EU to prevent and address adverse impacts on human rights, the environment, and good governance in companies\u2019 supply chains. If these efforts come to fruition, new laws will put in place clear rules for what companies and their investors will have to do to respect human rights.<\/span><\/p>\n

Business and human rights: a (r)evolution of the law?<\/span><\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Herbert Smith Freehills LLP<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last decade, the law on business and human rights has shifted considerably. Instruments calling on businesses to respect human rights have traditionally been understood as non-binding \u201csoft\u201d law, but are now being given teeth, resulting in businesses increasingly being held to account for actions which have adverse impacts on human rights. This (r)evolution of the law has gained momentum in recent years \u2013 in tribunal and court decisions, through grievance mechanisms and other non-traditional forums, in new investment agreements and in domestic legislation \u2013 and the trend looks likely to continue.<\/span><\/p>\n

International Trade as the New Front Against Transnational Crime<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | White & Case LLP | JD Supra<\/span><\/p>\n

Governments worldwide are sharpening their focus on money laundering executed through international trade. Anti-money laundering obligations on entities beyond traditional financial institutions continue to expand. Companies active in international trade, regardless of where they are located, should take notice as their supply chains continue to come under greater scrutiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friends of the Earth: UK support for Mozambique gas plant fuelling conflict<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | The Guardian<\/span><\/p>\n

The UK government is facing fresh calls to abandon its \u00a3750m plan to support a gas export terminal in Mozambique over fears the fossil fuel project is stoking the insurgency in the north of the country, which has left thousands of people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indigenous Peoples Cry for Protection: As Human Rights Defenders Zoom on West Africa<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | FrontPageAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

Grassroots Frontline Environmental, Land and Human Right Defenders in West Africa convened from 29 \u2013 31 March 2021, to discuss the situation affecting their work by way of the zoom technology. It was by all means a meeting of multidimensional profiles \u2013 with the high and the lowly in society interfacing. Credit to the Mano River Union Civil Society Natural Resource Rights and Governance Platform and its affiliate organization, Green Advocates International-Liberia, the progenitor of the initiative. <\/span><\/p>\n

ESG: Greenwashing and the EU Taxonomy Regulation – Part 1 – Greenwashing, What is it?<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | Matheson<\/span><\/p>\n

Sustainable finance refers to the concept of making financial investments in projects with environmental objectives by taking into account environmental, social and governance (\u201cESG\u201d) considerations. Predominantly to date, how we have seen this implemented has been through green or sustainability linked loans. Specifically, green loans are loans made available to borrowers to finance or re-finance green projects. Sustainability linked loans are loans which provide an incentive to borrowers if they achieve certain agreed sustainability linked performance objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fighting the \u2018International Thief Thief\u2019 with Global Magnitsky Sanctions<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | JustSecurity<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In his day, the late, great Nigerian musician and Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti was, among many other things, an anti-corruption and human rights activist. Not unlike Sergei Magnitsky, Fela fought back against corruption and suffered terribly at the hands of the State. And now, decades after Fela decried \u201cInternational Thief Thief,\u201d his son Femi is singing \u201cYou Can\u2019t Fight Corruption With Corruption\u201d on a new album.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reauthorizing and Strengthening the Global Magnitsky Act<\/a> | 14 April 2021 | JustSecurity<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a hearing recently to discuss the reauthorization of the Global Magnitsky Act, which authorizes the president to impose sanctions on foreign individuals accused of committing human rights abuses or engaging in corruption, and which sunsets in 2022. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cobalt and the Congo: A Sustainable Green Energy Transition Cannot Be Built on Human Exploitation<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | PRIO Blog<\/span><\/p>\n

General Motors, one of the United State\u2019s most important automakers, announced in January 2021 that it would phase out petroleum-powered cars and trucks and sell only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Although one of the auto industry\u2019s most ambitious moves, electric vehicles (EVs) cannot be produced or driven without cobalt, we cannot discuss this ferromagnetic metal without referring to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DR Congo is the world\u2019s leading source of mined cobalt, supplying 100,000 metric tons or approximately 70% of the world cobalt mine production of 140,000 metric tons in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ILA Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources : a roadmap for investment regulation?<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP <\/span><\/p>\n

The International Law Association\u2019s new guidelines on the Role of International Law in the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources for Development (Guidelines) were officially launched in the UK in March. The Guidelines are a helpful tool for States and private actors alike to shape their conduct in line with the priorities of the international community and avoid unnecessary disputes down the line. <\/span><\/p>\n

Human Rights Due Diligence in Supply Chain Contracts: A Shared Responsibility of Buyer and Supplier?<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | Mayer Brown | Eye on ESG<\/span><\/p>\n

This month, the American Bar Association (the \u201cABA\u201c) published a Report on its suggested Model Contract Clauses to Protect Workers in International Supply Chains (the \u201cMCCs\u201c). While the MCCs are not put forward as a binding standard, they do provide food for thought for companies who are seeking to align their supply chain contracts with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the \u201cUNGPs\u201c), and the increasing tide of mandatory human rights due diligence legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jewellery industry makes slow progress on responsible supply chains<\/a> | 10 April 2021 | Financial Times<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJewellery is beautiful, pure, talismanic. Mining is everything it is not \u2014 dirty, ugly, abusive.\u201d So says Greg Valerio, a jeweller and activist who was awarded an MBE in 2016 for his work in Fairtrade gold and with gold-mining communities in South America and Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

European Commission adopts report on corporate due diligence and accountability<\/a> | 10 April 2021 | Global Compliance News<\/span><\/p>\n

On 10 March 2021, the European Parliament adopted a legislative initiative report setting out recommendations to the European Commission on corporate due diligence and accountability, including a draft directive. The report proposes the introduction of a mandatory corporate due diligence obligation to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for human rights violations and negative environmental impacts in business’ supply chains. It demonstrates the European Parliament’s strong support for the EC’s sustainable corporate governance initiative and proposed new legislation regarding mandatory human rights and environmental supply chain due diligence, expected in Q2 this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

EU Conflict Minerals Regulation: What You Need to Know<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | Navex Global | JD Supra<\/span><\/p>\n

On 1 januari 2021, the Conflict Minerals Regulation (EU Regulation 2017\/821) came into full force across the EU. This new law aims to ensure that importers of certain materials originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas source these materials responsibly by laying down supply chain due diligence obligations.<\/span><\/p>\n

UK halts funding for Oxfam over sexual misconduct claims<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | The Guardian<\/span><\/p>\n

Oxfam suspends two aid workers amid sex exploitation claims in DR Congo<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | BBC<\/span><\/p>\n

The UK has halted aid funding for Oxfam following allegations of sexual misconduct made against staff in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The charity confirmed last week that two members of staff in the DRC were suspended as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of abuses of power, including bullying and sexual misconduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s fixing up human rights issues in renewables supply chains?<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | Power Technology<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s well documented that consumers are increasingly in the spotlight for their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and stances. For renewable energy, the issue is compound: people don\u2019t want to materially support companies with perceived unethical business practices and consumers are generally distrusting of companies that purport to have a role in green transitions while turning a blind eye to humanitarian or ecological abuses in their supply chains. <\/span><\/p>\n

The EU\u2019s Increasing ESG Regulation and its Implications for Business<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP | JD Supra<\/span><\/p>\n

The European Union (EU) is currently at the vanguard of environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures. Two areas of development in particular are likely to have widespread repercussions for businesses: newly implemented obligations for ESG disclosures and likely forthcoming mandatory human rights, environmental and governance due diligence. These measures involve both new obligations of disclosure as well as, potentially, substantive obligations to address ESG issues connected to companies\u2019 businesses. <\/span><\/p>\n

NATURAL RESOURCES<\/span><\/h2>\n

Uganda approves Resettlement Action Plan for EACOP<\/a> | 30 April 2021 | Construction Review Online<\/span><\/p>\n

The government of Uganda through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has approved the Resettlement Action Plan for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. This approval is specific to Uganda section of the project, and paves way for the implementation of the second phase of the land acquisition and resettlement process which involves completing the acquisition of land and securing the rights to the land, including payment of compensation and resettlement of affected households.<\/span><\/p>\n

Growth in Burkina Faso gold mining fuels human trafficking<\/a> | 30 April 2021 | The Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\n

For months, human traffickers beat and drugged Blessing, hauling the 27-year-old from one gold mine encampment to the next, where each night she was forced to sleep with dozens of men for less than $2 a person. The madam who lured Blessing to the landlocked West African nation of Burkina Faso with promises of a hair salon job, threatened to kill her if she tried to run away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tanzania gold refinery starts producing in drive to boost gold revenues<\/a> | 30 April 2021 | Mining Weekly<\/span><\/p>\n

A new gold refinery set to be the biggest in Tanzania has begun production in a step towards the government’s aim of processing more of the precious metal domestically.<\/span><\/p>\n

Total suspends gas project in Mozambique over Palma attack<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | The East African<\/span><\/p>\n

Total SE of France has declared an indefinite suspension of work on $20 billion natural gas project in Mozambique\u2019s northern Cabo Delgado province due to militant attacks close to its site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana sends in army to enforce mining ban near rivers and lakes<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana\u2019s military has launched a nationwide operation to clear illegal miners out of its water bodies, the West African country\u2019s lands minister said in on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Race on to restore Uganda\u2019s forests<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | The Independent (Uganda)<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoka Central Forest Reserve, a small 1,259 hectare tropical forest found in Adjumani District in northwest Uganda, was first gazetted as a central forest reserve in the 1940s. Part of the bigger 10,000 hectare East Moyo Wildlife Reserve famous for being home to rare and critically endangered flying squirrels, Zoka had remained untouched for about 100 years; until powerful illegal loggers invaded it recently to burn charcoal and steal its luxuriant Mahogany hardwood.<\/span><\/p>\n

DRC cobalt standard to empower artisanal, small-scale miners \u2013 Trafigura<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | Mining Weekly<\/span><\/p>\n

The Democratic Republic of Congo\u2019s (DRC\u2019s) newly established mining company \u2013 Entreprise G\u00e9n\u00e9rale du Cobalt (EGC) \u2013 will ensure the country\u2019s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector benefits from the energy transition through the establishment of legal and ethical channels for off-taking of the cobalt produced in the country, commodity trading company Trafigura corporate responsibility head James Nicholson said on April 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

DRC: Urgent need to reverse wildlife habitat loss<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | AFRIK 21<\/span><\/p>\n

Twenty-four non-governmental organisations based in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sent a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment, requesting his involvement in the fight against the decline of animal and plant species throughout the country. According to scientists, wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016, the main cause being the degradation and loss of their natural habitat.<\/span><\/p>\n

China\u2019s dominance of rare earths supply is a growing concern in the West<\/a> | 25 April 2021 | South China Morning Post<\/span><\/p>\n

Western countries are becoming concerned about their reliance on China for supplies of rare earth elements and other scarce metals and minerals that are essential for the manufacture of electric car batteries, satellites, weapons, wind turbines and solar panels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s global rare earths quest holds lessons for the US and Europe<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Quartz<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2010, the Japanese government had a rude wakeup call: Beijing had abruptly cut off all rare earth exports to Japan over a fishing trawler dispute. Tokyo was almost entirely dependent on China for the critical metals, and the embargo exposed this acute vulnerability.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oil, gas an \u2018illusionary\u2019 quick fix<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Mail & Guardian<\/span><\/p>\n

The growth of an offshore oil and gas industry is unlikely to have benefits nationally or locally, despite claims that it will bring significant economic development to South Africa. This is the thrust of a new report, Who Stole our Oceans: A Literature Review of the Socioeconomic Consequences of Offshore Oil and Gas Activities in South Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Rare Earths Are the Key to Just About Everything<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | Foreign Policy<\/span><\/p>\n

When then-U.S. President Donald Trump offered to buy Greenland in 2019, the world thought\u2014or hoped\u2014he was kidding. \u201cIt must be an April Fool\u2019s Day joke \u2026 but totally out of [season]!\u201d Lars Lokke Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister, tweeted. (Current Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen\u2019s response\u2014\u201cGreenland is not for sale.\u201d\u2014was a little blunter.) But Trump\u2019s proposal could also be seen as a strategic move, if one overlooks the fact that Greenland wasn\u2019t actually on the market. <\/span><\/p>\n

Caught between rare earths and Chinese dominance \u2014 the story behind everything no one is telling you: Part \u00bc<\/a>, Part 2\/4<\/a>; Part \u00be<\/a>; Part 4\/4<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | Mining.com<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a four-part article series on the reality of how and why China retains its dominance in the Rare Earth (RE) industry. Part one investigates how China built its multi-commodity monopolies across the technological spectrum. Part two provides a brief historical overview on what China learned from its Rare Earth monopoly. Part three looks at how China turned Rare Earth metals, alloys & magnets into \u2018utility goods\u2019 for its domestic economy. The final part of this article series explores how China\u2019s current monopolistic strategy feeds on the \u2018Free Market\u2019 actions of its adversaries and explores a possible solution to overcome Chinese global control in Rare Earths.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lapsset project works still on, nine years later<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | The East African<\/span><\/p>\n

As the region looks forward to the commencement of works on proposed joint Uganda, Tanzania East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Kenya\u2019s $1.5 billion Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline under the Lamu Port-South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset) project has been in the works since 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diamonds: Investigation into bankruptcy of former industry number one<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Brussels Times<\/span><\/p>\n

The Antwerp prosecutor has started an investigation into the mysterious bankruptcy of the company that formerly stood in first place among the city\u2019s diamond dealers. Eurostar Diamond Traders, owned by the family of 71-year-old Kaushik Mehta, was at one point the diamond city\u2019s major trader in both rough and cut diamonds. Then suddenly in 2019 the business was declared bankrupt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Des for\u00eats d\u2019Afrique centrale particuli\u00e8rement vuln\u00e9rables aux changements globaux<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | CIRAD<\/span><\/p>\n

African forest maps reveal areas vulnerable to the effects of climate change<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Nature<\/span><\/p>\n

Une \u00e9tude internationale, coordonn\u00e9e par des chercheurs de l\u2019IRD et du Cirad, r\u00e9v\u00e8le la composition des for\u00eats tropicales d\u2019Afrique centrale et leur vuln\u00e9rabilit\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019augmentation des pressions climatiques et humaines attendues dans les prochaines d\u00e9cennies. Gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 l\u2019utilisation d\u2019un jeu de donn\u00e9es exceptionnel \u2013 portant sur l\u2019inventaire de plus de 6 millions d\u2019arbres r\u00e9partis dans cinq pays \u2013 les chercheurs ont r\u00e9alis\u00e9 les premi\u00e8res cartes continues de la composition floristique et fonctionnelle de ces for\u00eats, leur permettant d\u2019identifier les massifs les plus vuln\u00e9rables. Ces r\u00e9sultats sont publi\u00e9s dans la revue Nature le 21 avril 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda: Roadmap to Uganda’s First Oil<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | The Monitor | AllAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the recent conclusion of key oil agreements related to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (“EACOP”) project, Uganda is at the Final Investment Decision (FID) to develop the necessary infrastructure for crude oil production. The international oil companies (“IOCs”) now have the green light to start awarding major project contracts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why the US is worried about its critical minerals supply chains<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | Greenbiz<\/span><\/p>\n

When U.S. companies build military weapons systems, electric vehicle batteries, satellites and wind turbines, they rely heavily on a few dozen “critical minerals” \u2014 many of which are mined and refined almost entirely by other countries. Building a single F-35A fighter jet, for example, requires at least 920 pounds of rare earth elements that come primarily from China.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tanzania set to export purified gold \u2013 minister<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | IPPMedia<\/span><\/p>\n

Tanzania to start exporting purified gold soon following the launch of Mwanza Precious Metal Refinery within this month, Minister for Minerals Doto Biteko revealed at the weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n

M\u00e9taux rares : Pourquoi la pand\u00e9mie oblige \u00e0 repenser nos strat\u00e9gies d\u2019approvisionnement<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | 20Minutes<\/span><\/p>\n

D\u00e9couvrez, chaque jour, une analyse de notre partenaire The Conversation. Aujourd\u2019hui, deux universitaires nous expliquent pourquoi les mod\u00e8les d\u2019approvisionnement en m\u00e9taux et terres rares doivent \u00eatre r\u00e9form\u00e9s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tanzania: Govt Strict On Mercury Importation<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Tanzania Daily News | AllAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

The government has expressed its commitment to strengthen control measures on the importation and use of mercury, to avert health and environmental effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania<\/a> <\/span>| 19 April 2021 | AfricaNews<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone were to put me on the spot and ask me to name an environmentalist group, I\u2019d probably blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, Greenpeace. There are obvious reasons for this: Greenpeace has been around for more than 50 years, and it has done a masterful job of bringing environmental concerns to the world\u2019s attention and keeping them there. The group has a strong track record when it comes to advocacy and awareness, and it has a global reach. It\u2019s truly one of the most visible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kibali rejects Sokimo claim<\/a> <\/span>| 19 April 2021 | Mining Weekly<\/span><\/p>\n

Kibali Goldmines said on April 18 that it had learned that the Congolese parastatal Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Mini\u00e8re de Kilo-Moto (Sokimo) was attempting, for a second time, to extort certain benefits from the company by filing new proceedings with the commercial court in Kinshasa.<\/span><\/p>\n

European And UK Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Supply Chains \u2013 The Weakest Links<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Vivien & Associes<\/span><\/p>\n

In our second article of this series we looked at the geological, geopolitical and ESG considerations involved in the establishment of UK and EU non-Chinese rare earth elements (REE) to permanent magnet supply chains (NCSC). To be of value, a NCSC must be able to demonstrate its \u201cresilience\u201d to both internal and external events and disruptions. The Covid pandemic shone a spotlight on global supply chains and their \u201cresilience\u201d in the face of diverse disruptions such as lockdown and quarantine, confirming the truth of the aphorism that \u201ca chain is no stronger than its weakest link\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Congo Nears Settlement of Block Held by U.S.-Sanctioned Tycoon<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | Bloomberg<\/span><\/p>\n

The Democratic Republic of Congo is considering settling a $619 million arbitration case by awarding a South African junior oil company almost half that amount in cash and new oil and mining permits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda: Gold Exporters to Pay $200 in Taxes for Every Kilogramme<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | The Monitor | AllAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

Gold exporters will be required to pay $200 or Shs740,000 for each exported kilogramme of the precious metal, according to the Mining (Amendment) Bill 2021. The Bill, which has already been passed by Cabinet, is still before Parliament awaiting deliberations. It will apply to both gold and other minerals.<\/span><\/p>\n

New law would allow Uganda to take stakes in private mining<\/a> | 14 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda’s cabinet has approved a draft mining law that would allow the government to own shares in private mining operations and impose steep penalties for violations in the sector, including prison terms of up to seven years.<\/span><\/p>\n

European and UK Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Supply Chains \u2013 The Missing Links<\/a> (pdf) | 13 April 2021 | Vivien & Associ\u00e9s<\/span><\/p>\n

In this, the second of a series of articles on non-Chinese rare earth elements (REE) to permanent magnet supply chains (NCSC), we consider some of the challenges to their creation including geological, geopolitical and ESG considerations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cobalt – RDC : le g\u00e9ant chinois CATL s\u2019offre une participation dans une mine pour 137,5 millions de dollars<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | La Tribune Afrique<\/span><\/p>\n

Leader mondial des batteries, le g\u00e9ant chinois CATL d\u00e9bloque 137,5 millions de dollars pour acqu\u00e9rir 25% de la mine de Kisanfu en R\u00e9publique d\u00e9mocratique du Congo (RDC), l’une des plus grandes sources de cobalt non d\u00e9velopp\u00e9es au monde. De quoi garantir l\u2019augmentation de sa production de batteries pour v\u00e9hicules \u00e9lectriques.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rare earths project diversifies sector<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | MiningWeekly<\/span><\/p>\n

Increased interest in a green economy and critical minerals is leading to new mining and investment opportunities in Tanzania such as ASX-listed rare earths mining company Peak Resources\u2019 Ngualla rare earths project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artisanal miners could help Congo become world\u2019s fourth-largest cobalt producer<\/a> | 11 April 2021 | Mining.com<\/span><\/p>\n

Congo\u2019s Entreprise G\u00e9n\u00e9rale du Cobalt (EGC) could become the world\u2019s fourth-largest cobalt producer in 2021, a new Roskill report states. According to the market analyst, if the state-owned company is able to capture all of the 8,000 tonnes of cobalt expected to be produced by artisanal and small-scale miners in the African country, then it may become a major player, only behind Glencore, ERG and China Molybdenum.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda, Tanzania, oil firms sign accords to build $3.5 billion pipeline<\/a> | 11 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda, Tanzania and oil firms Total and CNOOC on Sunday signed agreements that will kickstart the construction of a $3.5 billion crude pipeline to help ship crude from fields in western Uganda to international markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

DRC: G\u00e9camines takes over the artisanal cobalt mining sector<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | The Africa Report<\/span><\/p>\n

Officially launched on 31 March, EGC – a new subsidiary of G\u00e9camines – is intended to formalise and clean up a previously opaque artisanal mining sector. It will partner with Swiss commodities giant Trafigura, the US NGO Pact, and the UK auditors Kumi, using blockchain technology to track minerals as they pass through the system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Critical Raw Materials Supply Chains \u2013 Europe\u2019s and the UK\u2019s Response \u2013 Forging the <\/a>Links<\/a> (pdf) | 6 April 2021 | Vivien & Associ\u00e9s<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo solve global warming, we have to fully electrify the entire economy, including the transportation fleet. There are currently 1.3 billion cars on the planet. By mid-century, that will be close to 3 billion, just light duty cars. To make all of those electric vehicles, as opposed to internal combustible engine, you\u2019ll need more than $5 trillion worth of cobalt, nickel, lithium and copper. That\u2019s incremental, in addition to all the demand for those materials, for just business as usual activities.\u201d CEO Kurt House, KoBold.<\/span><\/p>\n

RDC : le cobalt artisanal a g\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 pr\u00e8s de 800 millions USD en 2020<\/a> | 5 April 2021 | ZoomEco<\/span><\/p>\n

La contribution de creuseurs artisanaux est une donne non n\u00e9gligeable dans la prise en compte des statistiques relatives \u00e0 la production des minerais en R\u00e9publique d\u00e9mocratique du Congo (RDC). C\u2019est le credo d\u2019Albert Yuma Mulimbi, Pr\u00e9sident du Conseil d\u2019administration de la Gecamines, lors du lancement officiel des activit\u00e9s de l\u2019Entreprise G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de Cobalt (EGC), le 31 mars dernier.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Western Mali could become a gold mine for terrorists<\/a> | 1 April 2021 | ISS | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

A flourishing gold mining economy in Kayes offers violent extremist groups an opportunity to expand their membership and reach.<\/span><\/p>\n

ARMS TRADE<\/span><\/h2>\n

Chinese-made Type 59G main battle tanks in service with Chad armed forces<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | ArmyRecognition<\/span><\/p>\n

According to pictures released on Twitter showing Type 59 MBT (Main Battle Tank) in the streets of N\u2019Djamena after the death of the president in a battle with the rebels. China would have delivered an undisclosed number of Type 59G main battle tanks to Chad. According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute arms trade database, Chad has ordered in 2007, 30 main battle tanks from China, without specifying the type of tank that was purchased.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nigeria: Senate Moves to Strengthen Laws Against Illegal Arms, Says Nigeria Under Siege<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | This Day | AllAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

The Senate yesterday painted a gloomy picture of the security situation in the country, saying the nation was under serious siege from non-state actors whose activities were threatening the continued existence of Nigeria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kenya opens new small arms factory<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Arms factory launched: President Uhuru Kenyatta set to commission small arms factory in Ruiru<\/a> (video) | 8 April 2021 | KTN News | Youtube<\/span><\/p>\n

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has opened a new $37 million small arms factory as the country seeks to improve self-reliance on defence and security equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Niger : importante saisie d\u2019armes dans la r\u00e9gion d\u2019Agadez<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | Niamey et les 2 jours<\/span><\/p>\n

Deux v\u00e9hicules ayant quitt\u00e9 la Libye en direction du Niger, ont \u00e9t\u00e9 intercept\u00e9s par des \u00e9l\u00e9ments de forces de s\u00e9curit\u00e9 en poste \u00e0 Ingall, lors d\u2019une patrouille ce dimanche.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mambas join G5 Sahel efforts in Niger<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Sixteen Mamba armoured personnel carriers (APCs) have joined the G5 Sahel Joint Force in northern Niger as part of efforts to combat terrorism, transnational organised crime and trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stockpiling munitions carries risks. The basic steps that can stop catastrophic explosions<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | The Conversation<\/span><\/p>\n

A series of massive blasts recently rocked Equatorial Guinea\u2019s city of Bata. The explosions, at an army barracks, killed over 100 people and destroyed military buildings as well as people\u2019s homes around the site. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema stated that the explosions were \u201ccaused by negligence of the unit in charge of storing explosives, dynamite and ammunition at the Nkoa Ntoma military camp\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kenyan army interested in getting Otokar Arma 8×8 armored vehicles<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | ArmyRecognition<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kenyan army is currently considering various options for the procurement of new armored vehicles, including Turkish manufacturer Otokar\u2019s Arma 8×8 tactical armored vehicle, according to the African press echoed by Daily Sabah.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benchmarks to assess the arms embargo on South Sudan – Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2021\/321)<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | UN Security Council | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

The present report is submitted pursuant to the letter from the President of the Security Council dated 16 December 2020, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to provide recommendations on benchmarks to assess the arms embargo on South Sudan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghana has officially received first Otokar Cobra 2 4×4 armored vehicles<\/a> | 6 April 2021 | ArmyRecognition<\/span><\/p>\n

According to pictures released by the Official Website of The Presidency Republic of Ghana, the Turkish company Otokar has delivered Cobra 1 and Cobra 2 4×4 armored vehicles to Ghana armed forces.<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction in Africa – Stabilizing Conflict-Affected Areas and Setting the Stage for Development<\/a> | 5 April 2021 | U.S. Department of State | AllAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1993, the United States has provided more than $509 million to support Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) programs throughout Africa. This assistance helps create conditions for lasting security and economic growth by reducing the availability of small arms and light weapons (SA\/LW) and improvised explosive device (IED) components used by terrorists and extremist groups. CWD programs also improve civilian security and lay the groundwork for sustainable development by clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).<\/span><\/p>\n

Les \u00abRafale papers\u00bb<\/a> | April 2021 | Mediapart<\/span><\/p>\n

L\u2019Agence fran\u00e7aise anticorruption (AFA) a d\u00e9couvert qu\u2019en marge du contrat \u00e0 7,8 milliards des Rafale vendus en 2016 par la France \u00e0 l\u2019Inde, Dassault a engag\u00e9 1 million d\u2019euros en faveur d\u2019un interm\u00e9diaire poursuivi pour blanchiment. Mais l\u2019AFA a enterr\u00e9 le dossier. Une enqu\u00eate de Mediapart sur une affaire d\u2019\u00c9tats qui met aussi en cause la justice et les autorit\u00e9s politiques.<\/span><\/p>\n

CONFLICT<\/span><\/h2>\n

Dispersion de mercenaires hors de Libye: l\u2019inqui\u00e9tude gagne l\u2019ONU et les pays d\u2019Afrique<\/a> | 29 April 2021 | Corbeau News<\/span><\/p>\n

Le Conseil de s\u00e9curit\u00e9 de l\u2019ONU a tenu jeudi sa premi\u00e8re r\u00e9union consacr\u00e9e au risque d\u2019une dispersion des mercenaires pr\u00e9sents en Libye dans les pays de la r\u00e9gion, illustr\u00e9e par les \u00e9v\u00e8nements au Tchad qui ont conduit \u00e0 la mort de son pr\u00e9sident. Lors de la r\u00e9union, des frictions ont oppos\u00e9 les Etats-Unis et la Russie \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9vocation du groupe Wagner, r\u00e9put\u00e9 proche de Moscou et dont l\u2019implication dans l\u2019offensive r\u00e9cente des rebelles tchadiens a \u00e9t\u00e9 avanc\u00e9e de source am\u00e9ricaine.<\/span><\/p>\n

The death of Chadian President Idris D\u00e9by Itno threatens stability in the region<\/a> | 29 April 2021 | Brookings<\/span><\/p>\n

The sudden death on 19 april 2021 of Chadian President Idriss D\u00e9by Itno is creating a very dangerous vacuum in Central Africa and the Sahel. D\u00e9by, who ruled Chad for 30 years, was killed while fighting rebels trying to overthrow his government.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts meet in Uganda over escalation of conflict in Horn of Africa<\/a> | 29 April 2021 | Daily Monitor (Uganda)<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts from member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a meeting here Wednesday to find ways to prevent a further escalation of conflict in the Horn of Africa. Present at the meeting were experts from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda under the Conflict Early Warning Mechanism Committee of Permanent Secretaries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Central African troops and Russian mercenaries accused of abuses in anti-rebel offensive<\/a> | 29 April 2021 | The New Humanitarian<\/span><\/p>\n

Central African Republic\u2019s army and its allies have driven back a rebel group that seized towns around the country amid contested elections in December, but rights groups and residents told The New Humanitarian they committed a string of abuses in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

ACLED Regional Overview \u2013 Africa (17-23 April 2021)<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | ACLED | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week in Africa, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno was killed on the battlefield by rebel fighters, prompting a military takeover of the government; international forces maintained a prominent role in combatting entrenched Islamist and domestic militant insurgencies across the Sahel and central Africa; and dozens of fatalities were reported during ongoing intercommunal violence in South Sudan and Ethiopia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forces opposed to Somali president control parts of Mogadishu<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunmen opposed to Somalia\u2019s Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed had control of strategic parts of the capital Mogadishu on Monday, Reuters journalists saw, after factions in the security forces clashed at the weekend over his term extension.<\/span><\/p>\n

Burkina Faso : les deux Espagnols disparus dans l\u2019est du Burkina Faso ont \u00e9t\u00e9 tu\u00e9s (ministre)<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | Sahel Intelligence<\/span><\/p>\n

Burkina Faso ambush: Spaniards and Irishman killed after abduction<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | BBC<\/span><\/p>\n

Les deux Espagnols port\u00e9s disparus apr\u00e8s une attaque d\u2019un groupe arm\u00e9 lundi, dans l\u2019est du Burkina Faso, ont \u00e9t\u00e9 tu\u00e9s, a confirm\u00e9 mardi la ministre espagnole des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res, de l\u2019UE et de la Coop\u00e9ration, Arancha Gonzalez Laya.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nord-Kivu: l\u2019arm\u00e9e r\u00e9fute sa collaboration avec les groupes arm\u00e9s<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | Radio Okapi<\/span><\/p>\n

Les forces arm\u00e9es de la RDC (FARDC) r\u00e9futent les all\u00e9gations selon lesquelles il existerait une collaboration entre elles et le groupe arm\u00e9 Nduma defense of Congo r\u00e9nove (NDC\/R) de Chuo Bwira Gilbert, le chef d\u2019une des factions de NDC\\R\u00e9nov\u00e9 dans les territoires Walikale et de Masisi, dans la province du Nord-Kivu. La mission de l\u2019arm\u00e9e n\u2019est pas celui de collaborer avec les groupes armes, mais de les traquer, a indiqu\u00e9 le major Ndjike Kaiko, porte-parole des op\u00e9rations Sokola 2, le lundi 26 avril. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sahel: La France au c\u0153ur des tensions<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | Maghreb Online<\/span><\/p>\n

Il y a presque dix ans, des analystes avaient pr\u00e9dit que le Tchad serait la prochaine zone \u00e0 risque en Afrique. Situ\u00e9 au c\u0153ur d\u2019une r\u00e9gion tampon du Sahel, charni\u00e8re entre le Maghreb et l\u2019Afrique noire, ce territoire devint rapidement en raison de facteurs plus que favorables (chute de Gueddafi et guerre en Libye, instabilit\u00e9 politique au Mali et au Niger, troubles au Burkina Faso..) un gigantesque sentier ou pullulent les groupes arm\u00e9s terroristes, la contrebande des armes et les trafiquants de drogue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nigeria urges U.S. to move Africa Command headquarters to continent<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States should consider moving its military headquarters overseeing Africa to the continent, from Germany, to better tackle growing armed violence in the region, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : arriv\u00e9e massive des rebelles de l\u2019UPC \u00e0 Z\u00e9mio, incendie des maisons au centre-ville<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

Les rebelles de l\u2019Unit\u00e9 pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC), dirig\u00e9e par le sulfureux mercenaire tchado-nig\u00e9rien Ali Darassa, en provenance de la ville de Mboki, sont arriv\u00e9s dans la sous-pr\u00e9fecture de Z\u00e9mio, situ\u00e9e \u00e0 1113 kilom\u00e8tres au sud-Est de Bangui, dans la pr\u00e9fecture de Haut-Mbomou. Ils terrorisent les populations, et proc\u00e8dent \u00e0 la destruction de quelques maisons au centre-ville.<\/span><\/p>\n

Somali opposition fighters cordon off parts of Mogadishu as political feud turns violent<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | France24<\/span><\/p>\n

Heavily armed Somali opposition fighters held positions in parts of Mogadishu on Monday, a day after clashes with government troops erupted over the president’s bid to extend his mandate, in the country’s worst political violence in years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gas fields and jihad: Mozambique\u2019s Cabo Delgado becomes a resource-rich war zone<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | Mongabay<\/span><\/p>\n

On Monday, French energy giant Total declared force majeure on its multibillion-dollar light natural gas (LNG) project in northern Mozambique, formally withdrawing all of its employees from the region and indefinitely suspending its operations. The declaration came after heavily armed militants carried out a surprise attack on the nearby town of Palma, a commercial center in the northern coastal province of Cabo Delgado, in late March. Days of sustained fighting in the town took place just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Total\u2019s worksite, a $20 billion offshore LNG facility that is currently the largest foreign investment project in Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

De GSPC \u00e0 AQMI : Djihadisme et folie sanguinaire<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | Maliweb.net<\/span><\/p>\n

Depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es, les organisations terroristes se r\u00e9clamant du djihad \u00e9cument le Sahel, avec des acronymes \u00e9tranges et parfois r\u00e9barbatifs, qui changent par moments, comme au rythme de leurs int\u00e9r\u00eats dans le sable mouvant du d\u00e9sert. D\u2019o\u00f9 viennent-ils ? Comment les premiers mouvements sont-ils constitu\u00e9s ? Pourquoi cette folie sanguinaire partie du Moyen-Orient s\u2019est-elle r\u00e9pandue sur la bande sah\u00e9lo-saharienne ? Le regard d\u2019un lecteur que nous avons bien voulu partager avec vous.<\/span><\/p>\n

UN deplores torture of Burundian refugees in Tanzania<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | The East African<\/span><\/p>\n

The United Nations is pointing a finger at Tanzania and Burundi for subjecting refugees and asylum seekers who fled Burundi to new repression and torture. A report prepared by a panel of UN experts said arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and forced returns have allegedly been carried out by the Tanzanian police and intelligence services in cooperation with the Burundian intelligence .<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad’s Military Rulers Name Civilian Prime Minister; Opposition Protests<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | VoA<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad’s new military rulers named a civilian politician, Albert Pahimi Padacke, as prime minister of a transitional government on Monday, a week after President Idriss Deby’s battlefield death, but opposition leaders quickly dismissed the appointment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Gunfire Erupts in Mogadishu as Somalia\u2019s Political Feud Turns Violent<\/a> | 25 April 2021 | NYT<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunfire erupted across the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday as security forces loyal to the president clashed with units that appeared to have sided with his rivals, stoking fears that Somalia\u2019s simmering political crisis is spilling over into violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tchad: le Conseil militaire de transition refuse de n\u00e9gocier avec les rebelles du Fact<\/a> | 25 April 2021 | RFI<\/span><\/p>\n

La junte militaire au pouvoir au Tchad oppose une fin de non-recevoir aux rebelles du Fact. Leur chef Mahamat Mahadi Ali se disait pr\u00eat \u00e0 un cessez-le-feu si un dialogue inclusif \u00e9tait engag\u00e9. Ce dimanche soir, le porte-parole du Conseil militaire de transition leur r\u00e9pond via un communiqu\u00e9 transmis \u00e0 la presse. \u00ab L\u2019heure n\u2019est ni \u00e0 la m\u00e9diation ni \u00e0 la n\u00e9gociation avec des hors-la-loi \u00bb, a d\u00e9clar\u00e9 le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Azem. La junte appelle \u00e0 la \u00ab coop\u00e9ration \u00bb du Niger pour capturer les rebelles du Fact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri: les Hema menacent de prendre les armes pour se d\u00e9fendre des attaques de CODECO et FPIC<\/a> | 25 April 2021 | MediaCongo.net<\/span><\/p>\n

La c\u00e9r\u00e9monie fun\u00e8bre des victimes de la derni\u00e8re attaque men\u00e9e par les miliciens FPIC dans la localit\u00e9 Nyara a eu lieu ce samedi 24 avril 2021 dans l\u2019entit\u00e9 voisine de Shari, en pr\u00e9sence de plusieurs visages embl\u00e9matiques de la communaut\u00e9 Hema et des membres du gouvernement provincial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Qa\u00efda au Maghreb Islamique (AQMI) : L\u2019origine de la terreur<\/a> | 24 April 2021 | Maliweb.net<\/span><\/p>\n

Au sahel, Al-Qa\u00efda au Maghreb Islamique f\u00fbt le premier groupe terroriste arm\u00e9 \u00e0 \u00eatre active. Cette organisation reste encore vivante gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 ses activit\u00e9s criminelle au Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritanie et l\u2019Alg\u00e9rie. Son r\u00e9seau est beaucoup plus \u00e9tendu au Mali et Niger par le fait de la porosit\u00e9 des fronti\u00e8res. Le Sahara, qui est une zone incontr\u00f4l\u00e9e est l\u2019endroit par excellence d\u2019exercer et de mener des attaques terroristes contre les forces de d\u00e9fense et de s\u00e9curit\u00e9 de diff\u00e9rents \u00c9tats. <\/span><\/p>\n

Beni: Un terroriste ADF captur\u00e9 par l\u2019arm\u00e9e et 7 civils tu\u00e9s par la milice<\/a> | 24 April 2021 | Politico.cd<\/span><\/p>\n

Les Forces Arm\u00e9es de la R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo (FARDC) annoncent l\u2019arrestation d\u2019un combattant membre du groupe rebelle ADF et d\u2019un de leurs collaborateurs, la journ\u00e9e de jeudi 22 avril 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

Total operations potentially face another Islamic State-linked insurgency in Uganda<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | ISS | Daily Maverick<\/span><\/p>\n

On 24 March, Islamist insurgents attacked the northern Mozambican coastal town of Palma, killing dozens of people and looting and destroying buildings. The incident forced French energy giant Total to abandon its multibillion-dollar liquid natural gas processing plant at nearby Afungi.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad faces an uncertain future<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Mail & Guardian<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad\u2019s President Idriss D\u00e9by Itno has died in combat just a day after securing re-election, opening a period of uncertainty in a country that is a crucial strategic ally of the West in the region. His son, Mahamat Idriss D\u00e9by, was immediately named transitional leader as head of a military council and both the government and parliament were dissolved, but the army vowed \u201cfree and democratic\u201d elections after an 18-month transitional period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Africom commander says Africa is too important for Americans to ignore<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Africa is a fascinating continent of tremendous possibilities but also tremendous dangers, and the US ignores the nations of Africa at its own peril, the commander of US Africa Command said during an interview.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assassinat du chef d\u2019Etat-major du SSNMC\/A au Soudan du Sud<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Benin WebTV<\/span><\/p>\n

Le chef d\u2019Etat-major d\u2019une des oppositions arm\u00e9es du Soudan du Sud, le G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Abraham Wana Yoane, a \u00e9t\u00e9 tu\u00e9 dans une attaque en Ouganda, selon une confirmation du groupe arm\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad family feud intensifies transition tensions after Idriss D\u00e9by’s death<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | BBC<\/span><\/p>\n

The swiftly executed transfer of power in Chad to Gen Mahamat Idriss D\u00e9by after his father’s death appears to be threatened by family divisions and fractures in the military that could have serious consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n

G\u00e9nocide du Rwanda : les responsables Fran\u00e7ais doivent \u00eatre jug\u00e9s<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Jean Claude Alt & Beno\u00eet Muracciole | La Croix<\/span><\/p>\n

Tribune Jean Claude Alt, administrateur ASER, expert des droits de l\u2019Homme et Beno\u00eet Muracciole, Pr\u00e9sident ASER. Ils esp\u00e8rent que la sortie de ce rapport permette d\u2019exiger que justice soit rendue pour pr\u00e9venir de nouvelles complicit\u00e9s au sein du gouvernement fran\u00e7ais<\/span><\/p>\n

Fronti\u00e8re Tchad-RCA : L\u2019arm\u00e9e centrafricaine se met en alerte maximale<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | Alwihda Info<\/span><\/p>\n

Dans un communiqu\u00e9, l\u2019\u00c9tat-major des forces arm\u00e9es informe la population centrafricaine que les unit\u00e9s des FACA situ\u00e9es \u00e0 la fronti\u00e8re de la RCA et le Tchad, dans le nord de la R\u00e9publique, sont en \u00e9tat pour emp\u00eacher les rebelles des groupes arm\u00e9s ill\u00e9gaux de franchir les fronti\u00e8res centrafricaines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Au Tchad, les connexions libyennes des rebelles pourraient embarrasser Paris<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | l’Opinion<\/span><\/p>\n

Le groupe arm\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019origine de la mort d\u2019Idriss D\u00e9by a \u00e9t\u00e9 pendant quatre ans employ\u00e9 par le mar\u00e9chal Haftar, un des protagonistes du conflit libyen, soutenu par la France tout comme l\u2019ancien pr\u00e9sident tchadien.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where Did Chad Rebels Prepare for Their Own War? In Libya<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | NYT<\/span><\/p>\n

Fighting as mercenaries for years, the rebels were ready to pull off their own stunning feat: an invasion that resulted in the death of Chad\u2019s strongman ruler.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia rights commission said armed group has taken control of county<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

An armed group has taken control of a county in western Ethiopia, reportedly killing civilians and kidnapping public servants, the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said.<\/span><\/p>\n

China’s base in Africa now big enough to host aircraft carriers, AFRICOM boss says<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Stars & Stripes<\/span><\/p>\n

China\u2019s naval base in the East African nation of Djibouti is now large enough to host aircraft carriers, marking the latest sign that Beijing is looking to expand military efforts in the region, U.S. Africa Command\u2019s top leader said. China, which opened its Djibouti base in 2017, has steadily grown its footprint and operates just seven miles from Camp Lemmonier, the U.S. military\u2019s operational hub in the Horn of Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Communique de presse N\u00b0012\/B.E\/2021<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad<\/span><\/p>\n

Le d\u00e9lai accord\u00e9 par le FACT \u00e0 la famille d\u2019Idriss DEBY ITNO pour l\u2019inhumer prend fin ce jour 21 avril 2021 \u00e0 minuit. Par cons\u00e9quent, le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad informe l\u2019opinion nationale et internationale de ce qui suit…<\/span><\/p>\n

In Darfur\u2019s rebel-held mountains, the war is far from over <\/a>| 21 April 2021 | The New Humanitarian<\/span><\/p>\n

Armed groups from Sudan\u2019s western region of Darfur \u2013 and other parts of the country \u2013 signed a peace deal in October with the transitional government, which took power following the revolution that ousted long-serving ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. But after trekking to a rebel base in the far-flung Jebel Marra mountains in early March, The New Humanitarian found the conflict is far from over…<\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : retour des mercenaires de Wagner \u00e0 destination de Yalinga, dans la Haute-Kotto<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

Apr\u00e8s la ville de Bria, chef-lieu de la pr\u00e9fecture de Haute-Kotto, dont ils ont boucl\u00e9 et mise \u00e0 sac plusieurs quartiers avant-hier et hier, les mercenaires russes et syriens de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des paramilitaires Wagner viennent de quitter la ville \u00e0 destination de Yalinga, situ\u00e9e \u00e0 170 kilom\u00e8tres \u00e0 l\u2019Est, avec un objectif d\u2019atteindre les villes de Nzako et Bakouma au plus tard la fin de ce mois. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mozambique : une action militaire internationale s\u2019impose contre les djihadistes<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | ADIAC<\/span><\/p>\n

Depuis plus de trois ans, les shebab ravagent la province de Cabo Delgado, \u00e0 majorit\u00e9 musulmane, situ\u00e9e \u00e0 la fronti\u00e8re avec la Tanzanie. Apr\u00e8s leur attaque qui a eu lieu en mars dernier \u00e0 Palma, ville strat\u00e9gique du nord-est, faisant des dizaines de morts et des milliers de d\u00e9plac\u00e9s, la r\u00e9gion redoute les prochaines actions de la gu\u00e9rilla djihadiste et en appelle au soutien de la communaut\u00e9 internationale.<\/span><\/p>\n

Deby’s Son to Lead Chad as Interim President<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | VoA<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad’s new leader – Mahamat Idriss D\u00e9by Itno<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | BBC<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad\u2019s Interim President Faces Power Struggle<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | VoA<\/span><\/p>\n

The son of the late President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad has been named interim president of the central African nation by a transitional military council.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tchad: le Conseil militaire annonce qu’il c\u00e9dera le pouvoir \u00e0 un gouvernement civil<\/a> (video) | 21 April 2021 | AFP | Youtube<\/span><\/p>\n

Le vice-pr\u00e9sident du Conseil militaire tchadien de transition, le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Djimadoum Tira\u00efna, d\u00e9clare que le “Conseil militaire de transition remettra le pouvoir \u00e0 un gouvernement civil apr\u00e8s des \u00e9lections libres et d\u00e9mocratiques dans un d\u00e9lai de 18 mois”, alors que la mort du pr\u00e9sident Idriss D\u00e9by Itno, au pouvoir depuis 30 ans et partenaire-cl\u00e9 des Occidentaux contre les jihadistes au Sahel, a ouvert une p\u00e9riode d’incertitude au Tchad o\u00f9 les rebelles ont promis de marcher sur la capitale N’Djamena.<\/span><\/p>\n

SSPDF and SPLA-IO to jointly contain insecurity in Eastern Equatoria<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Radio Tamazuj<\/span><\/p>\n

The Eastern Equatoria State council of ministers, during their third security meeting on Monday, resolved that the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces will work together to combat spiking insecurity in the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Roots of Repression and the Prospects for Democracy in Tanzania<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | The Conversation | AllAfrica<\/span><\/p>\n

Nobody was surprised that President John Magufuli won a second term in Tanzania’s 2020 general elections. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi has been in power since independence in 1961, and has never come close to losing power nationally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pillage, mise \u00e0 sac par les mercenaires de Wagner, la situation devient de plus en plus grave dans la ville de Bria<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

48 heures apr\u00e8s l\u2019arriv\u00e9e dans la ville des mercenaires de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 russe Wagner, la situation devient de plus en plus tendue \u00e0 Bria, chef-lieu de la pr\u00e9fecture de Haute-Kotto. \u00ab Ce que nous vivons aujourd\u2019hui \u00e0 Bria est indescriptible. Il y\u2019a beaucoup de souffrance parmi la population \u00bb, selon un notable local qui d\u00e9crit la sc\u00e8ne comme du jamais vu dans la ville.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri : journ\u00e9e ville morte \u00e0 Bunia pour protester contre l\u2019ins\u00e9curit\u00e9 persistante<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | Actualite.cd<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri : deuxi\u00e8me jour de gr\u00e8ve \u00e0 Bunia pour protester contre l\u2019ins\u00e9curit\u00e9<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Actualite.cd<\/span><\/p>\n

Les activit\u00e9s sont paralys\u00e9es ce mardi 20 avril \u00e0 Bunia, \u00e0 l\u2019appel \u00e0 une journ\u00e9e ville morte d\u00e9cr\u00e9t\u00e9e par la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 civile en vue de s\u2019insurger contre l\u2019ins\u00e9curit\u00e9 incessante dans la province de l\u2019Ituri. Il s\u2019agit d\u2019une premi\u00e8re de gr\u00e8ve sur une s\u00e9rie de trois journ\u00e9es ville morte.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri: les FARDC repoussent des miliciens FPIC\/Codeco \u00e0 Nyara, 5 civils tu\u00e9s (Bilan provisoire)<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | politico.cd<\/span><\/p>\n

Les Forces Arm\u00e9es de la R\u00e9publique D\u00e9mocratique du Congo (FARDC) bas\u00e9es dans le secteur op\u00e9rationnel de l\u2019Ituri rapportent avoir repouss\u00e9 ce mardi 20 avril, une attaque coalis\u00e9e des miliciens FPIC et Codeco (Bon Temple) qui visait l\u2019une des positions de l\u2019arm\u00e9e r\u00e9guli\u00e8re situ\u00e9e \u00e0 Nyara, \u00e0 \u00b1 6km de Bunia, dans le Groupement Ndena, chefferie de Babelebe dans le territoire de Djugu.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mali: Killings, \u2018Disappearances\u2019 in Military Operations<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | HRW<\/span><\/p>\n

Malian soldiers have allegedly killed at least 34 villagers, forcibly disappeared at least 16 people, and severely mistreated detainees during counterterrorism operations in Mali\u2019s central Mopti region, Human Rights Watch said today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thousands flee fresh clashes in Central African Republic<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | UN News<\/span><\/p>\n

Recent fighting between government forces and rebels in northern Central African Republic (CAR) has forc ed more than 2,000 refugees into neighboring Chad over the past week, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday. <\/span><\/p>\n

Chad’s Idriss Deby, a longstanding French ally in the troubled Sahel<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | France24<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad’s strategic interest to France, Western allies<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Idriss Deby Itno, who was on course for a sixth term as Chad’s president before he died from injuries sustained in battle, had earned a reputation as a stalwart French ally in the fight against jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel \u2013 despite accusations of authoritarianism.<\/span><\/p>\n

DR Congo seeks over $4bn in reparations from Uganda at ICJ<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | al Jazeera<\/span><\/p>\n

Oral Proceedings – Verbatim records: Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda)<\/a> | April 2021 | ICJ<\/span><\/p>\n

Lawyers for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday told the International Court of Justice that they are seeking $4.3bn in reparations payments from neighbouring Uganda for its role in the conflicts in the country\u2019s mineral-rich Ituri province.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tchad : le pr\u00e9sident Idriss D\u00e9by Itno est d\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | Jeune Afrique<\/span><\/p>\n

Idriss D\u00e9by Itno est d\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9, ce mardi 20 avril. Selon la t\u00e9l\u00e9vision nationale tchadienne, le chef de l\u2019\u00c9tat aurait succomb\u00e9 \u00e0 des blessures re\u00e7ues au combat ces derniers jours dans la r\u00e9gion du Kanem face aux rebelles du Front pour l\u2019alternance et la concorde au Tchad (FACT).<\/span><\/p>\n

Massacres threaten to engulf Darfur, where revenge has substituted for justice<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | Washington Post<\/span><\/p>\n

For almost all the 38 years Abdulwahab Mohamed Abdalla has been alive, scorched-earth ethnic warfare has kept him on the run. His is one of the generations scarred by war here in Darfur, where blood feuds run deep. Hundreds of thousands have been killed. For decades, justice has remained elusive, and revenge has been the most common recourse.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bewildering Search for the Islamic State in Congo<\/a> | 20 April 2021 | The Nation<\/span><\/p>\n

n 2003, three American college friends set out for Uganda. As they traveled through the north of the country, they were so moved by the suffering caused by the conflict between the government and the warlord Joseph Kony that they started an NGO called Invisible Children to spread awareness about the crisis and raise money for relief projects. Their work eventually drew the attention of Shannon Sedgwick Davis, a young Texas lawyer and CEO of the Bridgeway Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bridgeway Capital Management, a multibillion-dollar hedge fund with investments in oil, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wie wordt beter van het geweld in Oost-Congo?<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | MO*<\/span><\/p>\n

De aanvallen van gewapende groepen zoals ADF-Nalu in Oost-Congo volgen elkaar in sneltempo op. De bevolking is de terreur meer dan moe. Maar ook het burgerprotest tegen geweld wordt met geweld beantwoord: de Congolese ordediensten grijpen hardhandig in en schieten met scherp op de manifestanten. Wat is er aan de hand?<\/span><\/p>\n

Mozambique: \u00abL\u2019insurrection islamiste risque de d\u00e9stabiliser le pays et la r\u00e9gion\u00bb<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Le Figaro<\/span><\/p>\n

Le Mozambique est en proie \u00e0 une insurrection islamiste dans le nord-est du pays. Cette crise risque d\u2019aggraver la situation \u00e9conomique de cet \u00c9tat d\u2019Afrique de l\u2019est, explique l\u2019ancien ambassadeur de France au Mozambique Christian Daziano.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rwanda report blames France for \u2018enabling\u2019 the 1994 genocide<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | The Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\n

A Foreseeable Genocide: The Role of the French Government in Connection with the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Levy Firestone Muse LLP | Rwandan Government<\/span><\/p>\n

The French government bears \u201csignificant\u201d responsibility for \u201cenabling a foreseeable genocide,\u201d a report commissioned by the Rwandan government concludes about France\u2019s role before and during the horror in which an estimated 800,000 people were slaughtered in 1994.<\/span><\/p>\n

Affrontements au Tchad : soci\u00e9t\u00e9 civile et partis d’opposition appellent \u00e0 un cessez-le-feu<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | RFI<\/span><\/p>\n

Tchad: un groupe arm\u00e9 appelle \u00e0 soutenir la r\u00e9bellion<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Le Figaro<\/span><\/p>\n

Who are the rebels threatening to take Chad’s capital?<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Les combats ont fait rage samedi entre les forces nationales tchadiennes et les rebelles du Front pour l’alternance et la concorde au Tchad (Fact). Dans ce contexte, plusieurs partis d’oppositions et des organisations de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 civile ont sign\u00e9 ce week-end un appel au cessez-le-feu. Ils demandent \u00e9galement \u00e0 Idriss D\u00e9by l’ouverture d’un dialogue national inclusif pour apaiser les tensions, laissant au pr\u00e9sident tchadien une semaine pour se d\u00e9cider. <\/span><\/p>\n

Tchad: au moins 300 rebelles et cinq militaires tu\u00e9s dans le Nord<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Sahel Intelligence<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus de 300 \u00e9l\u00e9ments du Front pour l\u2019alternance et la concorde au Tchad (FACT), qui menaient une incursion depuis huit jours dans le nord du pays, ont \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9limin\u00e9s le samedi par l\u2019arm\u00e9e tchadienne. Cinq militaires tchadiens ont \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9galement tu\u00e9s dans ces affrontements et 36 autres bless\u00e9s.<\/span><\/p>\n

US, UK issue warnings in face of rebel incursion in northern Chad<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | RFI<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chadian army says the offensive in the northern provinces of Tibesti and Kanem is over, with the loss of 300 rebel lives. Despite this, the United States says rebel fighters appear to be moving towards the capital N’Djamena and have ordered non-essential staff to leave. Meanwhile, vote counting continues in the wake of tense presidential elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

US imposes bans on Uganda government officials accused of human rights violations<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | Jurist<\/span><\/p>\n

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Friday announced visa restrictions on Ugandan government officials accused of human rights violations and repressive acts during the January 14 general elections and campaign period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Communique de presse N\u00b0009\/B.E\/2021<\/a> | 18 April 2021 | Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad<\/span><\/p>\n

Haut Commandement des Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale: Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad informe l\u2019opinion nationale et internationale que ses Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale ont proc\u00e9d\u00e9 \u00e0 la lib\u00e9ration de la R\u00e9gion du Kanem ce jour 18 avril 2021. Les op\u00e9rations de ratissage des villes et garnisons lib\u00e9r\u00e9es de la province du Kanem se poursuivent \u00e0 l\u2019heure o\u00f9 nous rendons public ce pr\u00e9sent communiqu\u00e9 et le bilan vous sera d\u00e9clar\u00e9 dans les heures qui suivront.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cabo Delgado through a human rights lens: Amnesty International sounded the alarm but nobody listened<\/a> | 18 April 2021 | Daily Maverick<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past few months, Mozambique has captured international headlines for the \u2018insurgency\u2019 taking place in the resource-rich province of Cabo Delgado. The insurgency has been brewing for years under the radar of the international community, and human rights groups have spoken out consistently over the growing instability in the north of Mozambique.<\/span><\/p>\n

Communique de presse N\u00b0008\/B.E\/2021<\/a> | 17 April 2021 | Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad<\/span><\/p>\n

Haut Commandement des Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale : Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad tient \u00e0 porter \u00e0 la connaissance de l\u2019opinion nationale et internationale que ses Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale contr\u00f4le la totalit\u00e9 de la R\u00e9gion du BET depuis le 17 avril 2021 et sont, en ce moment m\u00eame, en passe de contr\u00f4ler la R\u00e9gion du Kanem. <\/span><\/p>\n

Communique de presse N\u00b0007\/B.E\/2021<\/a> (sic) | 16 April 2021 | Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad<\/span><\/p>\n

Haut Commandement des Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale: L\u2019offensive des forces de la r\u00e9sistance nationale du Front pour l’Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) se poursuit sans rel\u00e2che. Dans ce cadre, nous informons l’opinion nationale et internationale de la prise le 15 avril 2021 de la garnison strat\u00e9gique de Gouri \u00e0 200 kilom\u00e8tres de Faya. Surpris par la puissance de feu de nos vaillants combattants, l\u2019ennemi, malgr\u00e9 l\u2019appui logistique de l\u2019aviation fran\u00e7aise, est mis en d\u00e9route totale.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Plea to the UN to Address Sexual Violence in Conflict<\/a> | 16 April 2021 | HRW<\/span><\/p>\n

When Caroline Atim, founder and director of the South Sudan Women with Disabilities Network, spoke to the UN Security Council this week, I watched her hands intently and listened to her sign language interpreter, as she described the devastating impact of sexual violence in the South Sudan conflict. <\/span><\/p>\n

Haut-Katanga: des armes saisies aupr\u00e8s des miliciens arr\u00eat\u00e9s dans les parcs Kundelungu et Upemba, remises au G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Massi Pamba de CorPPN<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | Politico.cd<\/span><\/p>\n

L\u2019Auditeur militaire de Garnison de Kipushi, Emmanuel Ngoie Senga, a remis officiellement au Commandant de Corps pour la Protection des Parcs Nationaux et R\u00e9serves Naturelles (CorPPN), le G\u00e9n\u00e9ral major Massi Pamba en s\u00e9jour dans le Haut-Katanga ce 13 avril, des armes et munitions saisies aupr\u00e8s des miliciens arr\u00eat\u00e9s dans les parcs nationaux de l\u2019Upemba et Kundelungu. Les armes remises au Commandant CorPPN sont notamment des AK47, des fusils de chasse calibre 12, plusieurs cartouches ainsi que des arcs et fl\u00e8ches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan submitted pursuant to resolution 2521 (2020) (S\/2021\/365)<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | UN Security Council | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Since February 2020, the slow pace of reforms by the Government of South Sudan and its selective implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan has hindered improvements in the protection of civilians and prospects for long-term peace. More than a year of political disputes and disagreements over how to implement the Agreement has widened existing political, military and ethnic divisions in the country and has led to multiple incidents of violence between the two main signatories to the Agreement \u2013 the Sudan People\u2019s Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by the President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the Sudan People\u2019s Liberation Movement-Army in Opposition (SPLM\/A-IO), led by the First Vice-President, Riek Machar Teny.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was abducted by Museveni\u2019s regime. This is what I saw <\/a>| 15 April 2021 | African Arguments<\/span><\/p>\n

For the last few years in Uganda, I had taken stories of President Yoweri Museveni\u2019s government kidnapping political opponents with a pinch of salt. Even as I campaigned as a parliamentary candidate for the opposition Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) ahead of the 14 January 2021 elections, I presumed that presidential challenger Bobi Wine was exaggerating when he claimed that thousands of his supporters were being abducted.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Clandestine War on Africa: France\u2019s Endgame in Mali<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | CounterPunch<\/span><\/p>\n

In a recent report, the United Nations Mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, concluded that, on January 3, French warplanes had struck a crowd attending a wedding in the remote village of Bounti, killing 22 of the guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

At least one killed in anti-UN protest in eastern Congo<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

At least one person was killed by security forces on Thursday during protests against United Nations peacekeepers in Oicha, a town in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the town’s mayor said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Double meurtre des experts de l’ONU au Kasa\u00ef: un t\u00e9moin parle de “pr\u00e9m\u00e9ditation”<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | VoA<\/span><\/p>\n

Une journaliste fran\u00e7aise a \u00e9t\u00e9 entendue jeudi comme t\u00e9moin au proc\u00e8s des auteurs pr\u00e9sum\u00e9s du meurtre dans le sud-est de la R\u00e9publique d\u00e9mocratique du Congo de deux experts des Nations unies, en mars 2017, en marge du conflit dans la r\u00e9gion du Kasa\u00ef.<\/span><\/p>\n

Warlord Seeking Lenient Sentencing Describes Upbringing in Brutality<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | Court House News<\/span><\/p>\n

Raised in the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army before becoming its leader, Dominic Ongwen sought to reduce his prison sentence for dozens of war crimes on Thursday by recounting the disturbing details of his years as a child soldier. <\/span><\/p>\n

Victims Want Life Sentence for Ugandan War Atrocities<\/a> | 14 April 2021 | Court House News<\/span><\/p>\n

While prosecutors told the International Criminal Court that Dominic Ongwen should be given 20 years in prison for atrocities he committed against Ugandans as a leader in the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army, lawyers representing the victims have asked for the maximum sentence of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russian mercenaries accused of rights violations in Central African Republic<\/a> | 14 April 2021 | DW<\/span><\/p>\n

In Central African Republic, the government relies heavily on Russian mercenaries and weaponry to fight rebels. UN experts are now accusing the Russians of gross human rights violations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul Kagame: the hidden dictator<\/a> | 14 April 2021 | New Statesman<\/span><\/p>\n

New book asks why world ignores repression by Rwandan leader<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | The Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Not Disturb\u201d said the sign outside Room 905 of Johannesburg\u2019s Michelangelo Towers hotel on 1 January 2014. When the police finally broke in they found the garrotted body of Patrick Kare-geya, Rwanda\u2019s former head of \u00adexternal security, on the bed. Karegeya had fallen out with the regime he had helped create, and was murdered by a Rwandan hit squad as he helped build an opposition movement in exile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sahel counter-terrorism takes a heavy toll on civilians<\/a> | 14 April 2021 | ISS | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Military operations that cause civilian deaths and violate human rights are fuelling terrorist groups\u2019 propaganda. National and foreign forces deployed to fight terrorism in the Sahel are increasingly harming civilians. Figures from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicate that security forces caused more civilian fatalities in Mali and Burkina Faso in 2020 than violent extremist groups or communal violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Communique de presse N\u00b0006\/B.E\/2021<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad<\/span><\/p>\n

Haut Commandement des Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale: Le Front pour l’Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) informe l’opinion nationale et internationale que les Forces de la R\u00e9sistance Nationale ont proc\u00e9d\u00e9 \u00e0 la lib\u00e9ration totale de la r\u00e9gion du Tibesti. Nos forces ont intercept\u00e9 et d\u00e9truit un h\u00e9licopt\u00e8re de combat de la milice du dictateur, hier aux environs de 17h, heures locales, et son \u00e9quipage est port\u00e9 disparu. Ce qui porte \u00e0 trois le nombre des appareils du dictateur d\u00e9truits par les vaillants combattants du FACT.<\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : recrudescence des violences sexuelles \u00e0 Bangui<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | MSF<\/span><\/p>\n

Depuis fin d\u00e9cembre et la reprise des combats en R\u00e9publique centrafricaine, la capitale Bangui conna\u00eet un regain d\u2019agressions sexuelles, un probl\u00e8me syst\u00e9mique d\u00e9cupl\u00e9 par des ann\u00e9es de guerre civile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mozambique : la crainte d’autres attaques des groupes djihadistes<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | AFP | Connaissance des energies<\/span><\/p>\n

Leur attaque sophistiqu\u00e9e et meurtri\u00e8re contre Palma, ville strat\u00e9gique du nord-est du Mozambique, a permis aux jihadistes de se ravitailler en nourriture et en armes: depuis leur d\u00e9part, plane la peur du prochain raid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunmen raid over 200 head of cattle in Uror County<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | Radio Tamazuj<\/span><\/p>\n

Over 250 head of cattle were stolen during a raid by a group of armed bandits in Pieri Payam, Uror County of Jonglei State over the weekend, local authorities said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Foreign fighters and the trajectory of violence in northern Mozambique<\/a> | 13 April 2021 | War on the Rocks<\/span><\/p>\n

On March 24, fighters from Ansar al-Sunna Wa Jamma (ASWJ) \u2014 a U.S. State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization that it calls \u201cISIS-Mozambique\u201d \u2014 launched a multi-day assault on Palma, a coastal town of roughly 75,000 people located in Mozambique\u2019s hard-pressed province of Cabo Delgado. The operation \u2014 which reportedly involved covert infiltration, multiple points of simultaneous attack, and maritime support \u2014 was well-coordinated, with clear evidence of prior planning and intelligence gathering. <\/span><\/p>\n

ONU et mercenaires russes en Centrafrique : le pacte du silence ?<\/span><\/a> | 12 April 2021 | Afrique D\u00e9cryptages | IFRI<\/span><\/p>\n

Alors que la Mission multidimensionnelle int\u00e9gr\u00e9e des Nations unies pour la stabilisation au Mali (MINUSMA) a enqu\u00eat\u00e9 sur une frappe a\u00e9rienne de l\u2019arm\u00e9e fran\u00e7aise au d\u00e9but de l\u2019ann\u00e9e et a conclu \u00e0 une bavure, la Mission multidimensionnelle int\u00e9gr\u00e9e des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en Centrafrique (MINUSCA) reste \u00e9trangement sourde et aveugle aux agissements douteux de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de mercenariat russe Wagner depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rwanda\u2009: lettre d\u2019espoir depuis Kigali<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | Vincent Duclert | La Croix<\/span><\/p>\n

Tribune Pr\u00e9sident de la commission d\u2019historiens qui a r\u00e9cemment remis son rapport sur le r\u00f4le de la France au Rwanda durant le g\u00e9nocide des Tutsis, Vincent Duclert, re\u00e7u le 9 avril par le pr\u00e9sident rwandais Paul Kagame, nous fait part depuis Kigali de sa r\u00e9flexion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sahel : les accusations de viols commis par des soldats tchadiens fragilisent la Force <\/a>conjointe du G5<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | Le Monde<\/span><\/p>\n

Le t\u00e9moignage est gla\u00e7ant. \u00ab Ils se sont introduits dans notre case, ont tenu en respect mon mari avec une arme et, ensuite, ils se sont livr\u00e9s \u00e0 leur sale besogne, \u00e0 tour de r\u00f4le. \u00bb Le visage \u00e0 peine dissimul\u00e9 par un voile de couleur vive, une jeune femme ose raconter son viol, au micro de la cha\u00eene de t\u00e9l\u00e9vision Canal 3 Niger. Un reportage diffus\u00e9 d\u00e9but avril qui a choqu\u00e9 l\u2019opinion publique de ce pays d\u2019Afrique de l\u2019Ouest, o\u00f9 les agressions sexuelles restent taboues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Communique de presse N\u00b0003\/B.E\/2021<\/a> | 11 April 2021 | Le Front pour l\u2019Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad<\/span><\/p>\n

Le Front pour l’Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) informe l’opinion nationale et internationale qu’en date du dimanche 11 avril 2021 \u00e0 l’aube, les forces de la r\u00e9sistance stationn\u00e9es \u00e0 Tanoua, ont men\u00e9 de vastes op\u00e9rations militaires dans la r\u00e9gion du Tibesti.<\/span><\/p>\n

Les diff\u00e9rentes garnisons sur nos itin\u00e9raires, notamment Wour et Zouark\u00e9 sont tomb\u00e9es sans r\u00e9sistance aux mains de nos vaillants combattants.<\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : reprise d\u2019extraction mini\u00e8re sur le site de Ndassima, la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Wagner r\u00e9clame 127 milliards de francs CFA au pouvoir de Bangui<\/a> | 11 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00ab La guerre contre les groupes arm\u00e9s tire \u00e0 sa fin. Il est temps de faire le compte \u00bb, a d\u00e9clar\u00e9 un cadre influent de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 paramilitaire russe Wagner. D\u2019apr\u00e8s lui, l\u2019\u00c9tat centrafricain doit 127 milliards de francs CFA \u00e0 sa soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de mercenariat. Comment le gouvernement va-t-il rembourser cette colossale dette ? Les solutions sont trouv\u00e9es. Lesquelles ?<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer Militia Becomes Latest Target For Burkina’s Jihadists<\/a> | 10 April 2021 | Barron’s<\/span><\/p>\n

A volunteer force set up to help Burkina Faso’s beleaguered military fight jihadists has suffered huge casualties since it was created less than 16 months ago. According to an AFP tally, more than 200 members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Motherland (VDP) have died since January 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mozambique: AFRICOM\u2019s Newest Adventure<\/a> | 10 April 2021 | LA Progressive<\/span><\/p>\n

White faces in fatigues \u2013 I\u2019m sure that\u2019s just what most Mozambicans were hoping to see upon their shores. After all, it certainly isn\u2019t the first time. Ever since the Portuguese started planting trading posts and forts on what was known as the Swahili Coast around the year 1500, an arrival of armed whites has never really ended well for the locals. Now, if half a millennium late to the party, America recently shipped an army special forces detachment to the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conflict-related sexual violence: Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2021\/312)<\/a> | 9 April 2021 | UN Security Council | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

The present report, which covers the period from January to December 2020, is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2467 (2019), in which the Council requested me to report annually on the implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1960 (2010) and 2106 (2013), and to recommend strategic actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : Ces mercenaires qui nous font peur<\/a> | 9 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

Ces derni\u00e8res semaines, les Forces arm\u00e9es centrafricaines (FACA) ont vaillamment combattu contre les combattants de la Coalition pour le changement (CPC). Soutenus par leurs alli\u00e9s, de nombreuses villes ont \u00e9t\u00e9 lib\u00e9r\u00e9es, parfois sans combat, les forces de la CPC quittant les lieux comme des lapins avant m\u00eame l\u2019entr\u00e9e des militaires et de leurs alli\u00e9s. A chaque fois, les forces pro-gouvernementales auraient \u00e9t\u00e9 accueillies par une ovation populaire. Mais pour certains Centrafricains, la joie a \u00e9t\u00e9 de courte dur\u00e9e.<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda says it has signed security agreement with Egypt amid tensions over Ethiopia dam<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Uganda and Egypt have signed a military intelligence sharing agreement, the east African country said late on Wednesday, against a backdrop of rising tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over a hydropower dam on a tributary of the Nile river.<\/span><\/p>\n

ACLED Regional Overview \u2013 Africa (27 March-2 April 2021)<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | ACLED | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week in Africa, a failed coup attempt was staged in Niger; the Sudanese government unilaterally closed the main border crossing with Ethiopia, amid ongoing fighting in the region; and Islamist militants launched an assault on a United Nations peacekeeping base in Mali.<\/span><\/p>\n

Police fire shots at anti-UN protesters in eastern Congo<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Congolese police detained scores of protesters and fired live rounds on Thursday to disperse crowds demanding the departure of the United Nations peacekeeping mission from the city of Beni, local authorities and witnesses said.<\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : la pr\u00e9sence massive des \u00e9leveurs peuls dans la localit\u00e9 de Bangassou inqui\u00e8te la population<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c0 Bangassou, dans la pr\u00e9fecture de Mbomou, la pr\u00e9sence massive des \u00e9leveurs peuls a \u00e9t\u00e9 signal\u00e9e \u00e0 45 kilom\u00e8tres de la ville. Les populations parlent des \u00e9leveurs arm\u00e9s, et s\u2019opposent cat\u00e9goriquement \u00e0 leur installation dans la localit\u00e9. Ce qui pousse les autorit\u00e9s locales \u00e0 mener de campagne pour le vivre ensemble, mais le risque de confrontation est r\u00e9el.<\/span><\/p>\n

Implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic <\/a>Republic of the Congo and the Region – Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2020\/306)<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | UN Security Council | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2556 (2020), in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to report every six months on the implementation of the commitments under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region and its linkages with the broader security situation in the region. It provides an overview of peace and security developments in the Great Lakes region since the issuance of the previous report (S\/2020\/951) and covers the period from 16 September 2020 to 15 March 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rise and Rise of the Special Criminal Court<\/a> (Part I) | 7 April 2021 | Opinio Juris<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rise and Rise of the Special Criminal Court<\/a> (Part II) | 7 April 2021 | Opinio Juris<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most interesting and exciting landscapes in the field of international criminal law at the moment is the Special Criminal Court (\u2018SCC\u2019 or \u2018Court\u2019). Located in Bangui, Central African Republic (\u2018CAR\u2019), the SCC is a hybrid international court with a mandate to try individuals accused of \u201cserious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law\u201d, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in CAR from 1 January 2003 (Art. 3, para. 1, Statute).<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri : 5 personnes tu\u00e9es par les miliciens de la CODECO \u00e0 Katsu<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | Radio Okapi<\/span><\/p>\n

Cinq personnes ont \u00e9t\u00e9 abattues \u00e0 l\u2019aide de machettes mardi 6 avril, par des pr\u00e9sum\u00e9s assaillants de la milice CODECO \u00e0 Katsu, \u00e0 environ 40 kilom\u00e8tres, au nord de Bunia dans la chefferie de Mambisa en territoire de Djugu. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cabo Delgado: Consequences of a failing state<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

More than a week after last month\u2019s attack on Palma, the Mozambican authorities claimed to be in control of the town. There is still no independent verification of this and the area remains cut off from cellphone communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mozambique: What next for Cabo Delgado \u2014 dialogue or disaster?<\/a> (Part Two) | 7 April 2021 | Daily Maverick<\/span><\/p>\n

This week the Southern African Development Community Troika meets to discuss the deepening crisis in Mozambique\u2019s Cabo Delgado province. They would do well to listen to the pleas of activists in Mozambique who are calling for national dialogue and regional development rather than further militarisation.<\/span><\/p>\n

UN experts alarmed by CAR Russian trainers<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

A group of UN experts expressed alarm at increased recruitment and use of private military and foreign security contractors by the government of Central African Republic (CAR) and their close contact with UN peacekeepers.<\/span><\/p>\n

At least 100 killed in border clashes between Ethiopia\u2019s Somali and Afar regions<\/a> | 7 April 2021 | DefenceWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Border clashes between Ethiopia\u2019s Afar and Somali regions have killed at least 100 people, a regional official said on Tuesday, the latest outbreak of violence ahead of national elections in June.<\/span><\/p>\n

Major group quits Central African Republic rebel bloc<\/a> | 6 April 2021 | Anadolu Agency<\/span><\/p>\n

Ali Darassa Mahamat, leader of the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), said in a statement that his group will \u201cwithdraw from the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Secret Wars of Africa\u2019s Sahel<\/a> | 6 April 2021 | Gulf News<\/span><\/p>\n

In a recent report, the United Nations Mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, concluded that, on January 3, French warplanes had struck a crowd attending a wedding in the remote village of Bounti, killing 22 of the guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

France to open archive for period covering Rwandan genocide<\/a> | 6 April 2021 | The Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\n

G\u00e9nocide au Rwanda\u202f: le rapport Duclert ne livre qu\u2019une part de v\u00e9rit\u00e9<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | Fran\u00e7ois Robinet | Jeune Afrique<\/span><\/p>\n

Rapport de la Commission de recherche sur les archives fran\u00e7aises relatives au Rwanda et au g\u00e9nocide des Tutsi (1990-1994) remis au Pr\u00e9sident de la R\u00e9publique le 26 mars 2021 \u00e0 Paris<\/a> (pdf) | 26 March 2021 | Vincent Duclert | Vie publique<\/span><\/p>\n

France\u2019s role before and during the 1994 Rwandan genocide was a \u201cmonumental failure\u201d that the country must acknowledge, the lead author of a report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron said, as the country is about to open its archives from this period to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n

Women abducted in South Sudan released, hundreds remain missing<\/a> | 5 April 2021 | UN News<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifty-eight\u202f women and children of more than 600 who were abducted last year during vicious intercommunal fighting in South Sudan, have been reunited with their families, the UN Spokesperson told reporters on Monday.\u202f <\/span><\/p>\n

Mozambique: Poverty and inequality fuel violent extremism<\/a> (Part One) | 5 April 2021 | Daily Maverick<\/span><\/p>\n

On 24 March 2021, insurgents commenced a sophisticated and bloody attack on the town of Palma, in the far north of Mozambique\u2019s Cabo Delgado province. The attack lasted for five days, according to some reports, and has made world news.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri : Arrestation de 7 rebelles ougandais venus appuyer les miliciens CODECO \u00e0 Djugu<\/a> | 4 April 2021 | MediaCongo.net<\/span><\/p>\n

Un groupe des sept rebelles d\u2019origine ougandaise a \u00e9t\u00e9 arr\u00eat\u00e9 dans la nuit du 2 au 3 avril 2021 \u00e0 Siro, village situ\u00e9 \u00e0 plus de 8 Kilom\u00e8tres de Ndrele dans le territoire de Djugu, en province de l\u2019Ituri.<\/span><\/p>\n

ISIS, Beheadings and Billions in Investments: What Is Happening in Mozambique<\/a> | 4 April 2021 | Haaretz<\/span><\/p>\n

In the battle for Mozambique’s Palma more than 2,600 people have been killed. The humanitarian crisis has also dramatically increased, from 90,000 displaced at the start of 2020 to more than 670,000 now.<\/span><\/p>\n

SPLM-N Al-Hilu sign MOU with Democratic Unionist Party<\/a> | 3 April 2021 | Radio Tamazuj<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sudan People\u2019s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) faction led by Abdel-Aziz Al-Hilu on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sudanese Democratic Unionist Party in Juba.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad arrests soldiers accused of rapes in Niger<\/a> | 3 April 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad\u2019s government said on Saturday that soldiers accused of at least three rapes in Niger, including that of an 11-year-old girl, have been arrested and will face punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

RDC-Ituri: entre CODECO, FRPI, FPIC et ADF, la situation davantage pr\u00e9occupante<\/a> | 3 April 2021 | Actualite.cd<\/span><\/p>\n

United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the <\/a>Congo: Report of the Secretary-General<\/a> (pdf) | 18 March 2021 | United Nations<\/span><\/p>\n

Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, secr\u00e9taire g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des Nations unies, a publi\u00e9 son dernier rapport sur la situation en RDC. Il couvre la p\u00e9riode du 2 d\u00e9cembre 2020 au 18 mars 2021. Sur la situation en Ituri, le N\u00b01 de l\u2019ONU note que la situation s\u00e9curitaire s\u2019est d\u00e9grad\u00e9e davantage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ituri : 21 miliciens CODECO condamn\u00e9s \u00e0 perp\u00e9tuit\u00e9 pour crimes de guerre et crimes <\/a>contre l\u2019humanit\u00e9<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | Radio Okapi<\/span><\/p>\n

Le tribunal militaire de garnison de Bunia dans la province de l\u2019Ituri a condamn\u00e9 jeudi 1er avril, \u00e0 perp\u00e9tuit\u00e9, vingt et un assaillants de la milice CODECO. Ils sont accus\u00e9s de guerre et crimes contre l\u2019humanit\u00e9 par meurtre, d\u00e9portation et pers\u00e9cution, des faits commis dans le territoire de Djugu. <\/span><\/p>\n

RCA : les cadres du mouvement arm\u00e9e 3R annonce bizarrement la mort du sulfureux chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | CorbeauNews<\/span><\/p>\n

The Death of a Warlord in the Central African Republic<\/a> | 16 April 2021 | HRW<\/span><\/p>\n

Mort d\u2019Abbas Sidiki : ce qui s\u2019est vraiment pass\u00e9<\/a> | 16 April 2021 | Radio NdekeLuka<\/span><\/p>\n

Annonc\u00e9 par les proches du pouvoir \u00e0 plusieurs reprises pour mort , le chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki est revenu miraculeusement \u00e0 la vie apr\u00e8s quelques semaines de l\u2019annonce de son d\u00e9c\u00e8s. Cette fois, c\u2019est son mouvement arm\u00e9 3R qui l\u2019annonce dans un communiqu\u00e9 ce jour 2 avril 2021. Selon ce communiqu\u00e9, l\u2019homme serait mort le 25 mars 2021 au centre de sant\u00e9 du village Kamba-Kota, dans l\u2019Ouham. Infos ou intoxes ? Affaire \u00e0 suivre\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

DRC\u2019s Allied Democratic Forces Is Spreading Violence In Secrecy<\/a> | 1 April 2021 | OWP<\/span><\/p>\n

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been spreading violence throughout the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo for decades now. However, this group is feared not only for its violence, but also for its secrecy. Recently, an attack on the Bulongo village left a dozen villagers dead overnight, the ADF is blamed, but nothing can prove for a fact that they are culpable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The US has placed sanctions on ISIS-DRC, but does the group even exist?<\/a> | 31 March 2021 | African Arguments<\/span><\/p>\n

On 10 March, the US Department of State designated a rebel group operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a foreign terrorist organisation. Referring to it as the \u201cIslamic State of Iraq and Syria \u2013 Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC)\u201d, it placed the group under strict sanctions. It suggested that the rebel group \u2013 also known as Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) \u2013 has become part of the so-called Islamic State\u2019s Central Africa Province and warrants heightened action.<\/span><\/p>\n

ETHIOPIA \u2013 TIGRAY CONFLICT<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u2018Clean out our insides\u2019: Ethiopia detains Tigrayans amid war<\/span><\/a> | 29 April 2021 | The Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia has swept up thousands of ethnic Tigrayans into detention centers across the country on accusations that they are traitors, often holding them for months and without charges, the AP has found. The detentions, mainly but not exclusively of military personnel, are an apparent attempt to purge state institutions of the Tigrayans who once dominated them…<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia \u2013 Tigray Conflict, Fact Sheet #7<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | USAID | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

Increased insecurity and ongoing communications disruptions continue to hinder humanitarian response efforts in Tigray. The DART and USG leadership continue to express concern regarding reports of protection violations, as well as advocate that the GoE take steps to increase humanitarian access and allow the importation of communications equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray War Is Fueling Amhara Expansionism<\/a> | 28 April 2021 | Foreign Policy<\/span><\/p>\n

The war in Tigray, the northernmost region of Ethiopia, is ostensibly about political control. The federal government\u2019s stated objective is to arrest the political and military leadership of the ousted regional government in what it still refers to as a law enforcement operation. But among the ethnic Amhara political elite, it is seen as a war to regain territories lost in 1991. Being the second-largest ethnic group in the country, the Amhara militia and special forces have been pivotal in the war campaign. Western and southern parts of Tigray are thus currently being incorporated under Amhara administration and control despite protests from the interim regional government in Tigray.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eritrean troops block, loot food aid in Tigray: documents<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | France24<\/span><\/p>\n

Eritrean soldiers are blocking and looting food aid in Ethiopia’s war-hit Tigray region, according to government documents obtained by AFP, stoking fears of starvation deaths as fighting nears the six-month mark. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray in November to detain and disarm leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the regional ruling party that once dominated national politics. <\/span><\/p>\n

US Continues Non-Humanitarian ‘Assistance Pause’ to Pressure Ethiopia to End Tigray Conflict<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | VoA<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States is pressing Ethiopia to end the conflict in its Tigray region that has been raging for almost six months. U.S. officials are also calling for allied Eritrean troops to withdraw from the region. The United States will continue to pause non-humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia to pressure Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed\u2019s government to do more to stop the \u201cdeteriorating humanitarian and human rights crisis,\u201d officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Tigray, Sexual Violence Has Become a Weapon of War<\/a> | 27 April 2021 | Foreign Policy<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent weeks, women in Tigray, Ethiopia, have started coming forward with the most painful stories imaginable about how they have been sexually violated and tortured by soldiers of the Ethiopian and Eritrean armies.<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Africa Envoy: Ethiopia Crisis Could Make Syria Look Like \u2018Child\u2019s Play\u2019<\/a> | 26 April 2021 | Foreign Policy<\/span><\/p>\n

The Biden administration this month brought Jeffrey Feltman, a seasoned former senior U.S. and United Nations diplomat, out of semi-retirement to assume the newly created role of special envoy for the Horn of Africa, where multiple crises threaten to unravel the entire region.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDying by blood or by hunger\u201d: The war in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region, explained<\/span><\/a> | 24 April 2021 | Vox<\/span><\/p>\n

The bodies of the two brothers were left for more than a day. Their families knew they were there, but the soldiers wouldn\u2019t let them collect the bodies. The soldiers left behind witnesses, though: two boys, barely teens, tied to a tree nearby, after the soldiers forced them to spend the night on the ground, between the bodies of the murdered men.<\/span><\/p>\n

UN breaks silence on Ethiopia crisis, urges investigation into reported Tigray atrocities<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | CNN<\/span><\/p>\n

The United Nations Security Council has voiced “deep concern” over a humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region for the first time since conflict erupted there five months ago, calling for reported atrocities to be investigated.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Twitter became a battlefield to shape Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray conflict narrative<\/a> | 23 April 2021 | Daily Maverick<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite limited access to information about the Tigray conflict, aggressive social media campaigns \u2013 both pro- and anti-government \u2013 sprung from the Ethiopian diaspora in a bid to shape the dominant narrative for an international audience, DFRLab has found. <\/span><\/p>\n

UN Official: May be ‘Many Months’ Before Full Scale of Tigray Rapes Known<\/a> | 22 April 2021 | VoA<\/span><\/p>\n

“Testimonies of some rape survivors reveal the brutal and heinous war being waged on the bodies of women and girls,”\u202f Pramila\u202f Patten, the \u202fU.N. special representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict \u202fsaid during a discussion about Tigray at Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018A Tigrayan womb should never give birth\u2019: Rape in Tigray<\/span><\/a> | 21 April 2021 | al Jazeera<\/span><\/p>\n

Displaced people from Ethiopia\u2019s western Tigray region report cases of rape, looting and extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by Amhara forces.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018No end\u2019 to conflict in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region<\/span><\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Modern Diplomacy<\/span><\/p>\n

Le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l\u2019enfance (UNICEF) d\u00e9nonce des rapports de viols collectifs et \u00ab un niveau de cruaut\u00e9 d\u00e9concertant \u00bb contre les enfants au Tigr\u00e9<\/span><\/a> | 20 April 2021 | UN News<\/span><\/p>\n

Disturbing reports have continued to emerge of widespread abuse of civilians in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region, nearly six months since conflict erupted, the UN Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reasons the international community is unable to end the war in Tigray<\/a> | 21 April 2021 | Ethiopia Insight<\/span><\/p>\n

The war in Tigray has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. International and domestic observers had released reports on gang rapes, extrajudicial killings, destruction of property, and deaths from starvation. On 19 November, the European Union announced, \u201cProgress remains very limited in Tigray, fighting is ongoing, and humanitarian access is still being prevented.\u201d The United States and European countries have called for a cessation of hostilities and peace talks. These calls, however, have fallen on deaf ears.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video shows the horror of rape as weapon of war in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region<\/a> | 19 April 2021 | France24<\/span><\/p>\n

A horrifying video showing a doctor operating on a woman who was brutally raped in Ethiopia\u2019s conflict-torn Tigray region has been circulating widely on WhatsApp since early March. The surgery took place in a hospital in Adigrat, in the north of the Tigray. Our team spoke to several sources who told us about what happened to this woman, who is now living in a safe house. Her story highlights the massive and widespread rape of woman in the conflict in the Tigray that began in late 2020. <\/span><\/p>\n

UN warns sexual violence being used as weapon of war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region<\/a> | 16 April 2021 | RFI<\/span><\/p>\n

The United Nations aid chief has told the Security Council that sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war in Ethiopia’s Tigray. The US ambassador to the UN said Washington was “horrified by the reports of rape and other unspeakably cruel sexual violence” in the region, adding that Eritrean forces must be removed from Ethiopia “immediately”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eritrean Troops Continue to Commit Atrocities in Tigray, U.N. Says<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | NYT<\/span><\/p>\n

Eritrean troops continue to commit atrocities in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray, despite assurances by Ethiopia\u2019s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, that they were leaving, a senior United Nations official said Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

UN Security Council Needs to Act on Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray Region<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | HRW<\/span><\/p>\n

Today is the fifth time the United Nations Security Council will discuss the conflict in Ethiopia\u2019s northern Tigray region behind closed doors. Five months into one of the world\u2019s gravest humanitarian and human rights crises, the UN\u2019s most powerful body needs to end its paralysis and support concrete measures to deter further abuses. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Tale of Eritrean Withdrawal from Tigray: But Where is the Border?<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | African Arguments<\/span><\/p>\n

During a session in parliament on 23 maart 2021 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia publicly acknowledged Eritrean involvement in his country\u2019s ongoing civil war in Tigray but indicated that it would take some time for Eritrea\u2019s forces to withdraw. Three days later, the Prime Minister issued a statement announcing that the government of Eritrea had \u201cagreed to withdraw its forces out of the Ethiopian border\u201d and that the Ethiopian army \u201cwill take over guarding the border area effective immediately\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Women in Ethiopian conflict zone tell of gang rapes and violence by soldiers<\/a> | 15 April 2021 | Business Day<\/span><\/p>\n

The young mother was trying to get home with food for her two children when she says soldiers pulled her off a minibus in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region, claiming it was overloaded. It was the beginning of an 11-day ordeal in February, during which she says she was repeatedly raped by 23 soldiers who forced nails, a rock and other items into her vagina, and threatened her with a knife.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sexual Violence in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray Region, 30 March 2021<\/a> | 12 April 2021 | Insecurity Insight | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

On 4 November 2020 the Ethiopian army began a military offensive against the Tigray region\u2019s ruling party, the Tigray People\u2019s Liberation Front (TPLF). Four months later the ongoing conflict has killed thousands of civilians, displaced over two million, forced thousands of refugees to flee to Sudan, and caused widespread destruction.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Ethiopia\u2019s war, a retreat worthy of African ideals<\/a> | 9 April 2021 | The Christian Science Monitor<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the past quarter century, Africa\u2019s leaders have steadily erected standards to better manage their own affairs. These are meant to strengthen the rule of law through fair elections, safeguard human rights, and promote prosperity through economic cooperation and joint peacekeeping. The African Union, the continent\u2019s loose alliance of nations, even established a peer review process to hold politicians accountable to their new principles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia: conflict in Tigray threatens to finish Abiy\u2019s dream of unity<\/span><\/a> | 8 April 2021 | Financial Times<\/span><\/p>\n

At a makeshift shelter in a school in Mekelle, capital of Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region, Gezae Wolderaphael, an aquiline-featured young sesame farmer, shows what he says are rifle butt and knife wounds on his face and shoulder. The injuries, he says, were inflicted by members of an assortment of forces who surrounded him in the western Tigrayan town of Mai Kadra last November after Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia\u2019s prime minister, ordered federal troops to take control of the region. \u201cThey put a gun in my mouth,\u201d he adds, before stabbing him and leaving him for dead in the street. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia\u2019s Perilous Propaganda War<\/a> | 8 April 2021 | Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/p>\n

Late last month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed finally admitted the worst-kept secret in Africa: that soldiers from neighboring Eritrea are fighting alongside Ethiopia\u2019s military in the Tigray region of the country. For the last five months, Abiy\u2019s government has waged a military offensive there against the Tigrayan People\u2019s Liberation Front (TPLF), which once dominated Ethiopia\u2019s government and regarded Eritrea as an enemy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia targeting Tigray with ‘starvation crimes’ as military tactic<\/a> | 6 April 2021 | RFI<\/span><\/p>\n

Famine is looming in Ethiopia\u2019s war-torn Tigray region as military operations specifically target food systems with systematic looting and pillaging of food and farms forming part of efforts to use hunger as a weapon of war, according to a new report published on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starving Tigray. How Armed Conflict and Mass Atrocities Have Destroyed an Ethiopian Region\u2019s Economy and Food System and Are Threatening Famine<\/a> (pdf) | 6 April 2021 | World Peace Foundation | ReliefWeb<\/span><\/p>\n

“They have destroyed Tigray, literally.” Mulugeta Gebrehiwot speaking by phone from Tigray 27 januari 2021 The people of Tigray, Ethiopia, are suffering a humanitarian crisis that is entirely man-made. This special report from the World Peace Foundation documents how Ethiopian and Eritrean belligerents in the war in Tigray have comprehensively dismantled the region\u2019s economy and food system. We provide evidence of their ongoing actions to deprive people of objects and activities indispensable to their survival\u2014actions that amount to international crimes. We track the process of deprivation conducted in a widespread and systematic manner. We indicate where it is leading: in coming months, to mass starvation and a risk of famine; in the longer term, to sustained food insecurity and dependence on external assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why peace will be elusive in Ethiopia\u2019s civil war in Tigray<\/a> | 5 April 2021 | Ethiopia Insight<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite a promise from Abiy Ahmed that Eritrean troops will leave the region, it is likely the war will continue unabated until at least the start of the rainy season in June, and quite possibly beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethiopia: 1,900 people killed in massacres in Tigray identified<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | The Guardian<\/span><\/p>\n

Tigray: Atlas of the Humanitarian Situation<\/a> (pdf) | March 2021 | University of Ghent | Researchgate<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost 2,000 people killed in more than 150 massacres by soldiers, paramilitaries and insurgents in Tigray have been identified by researchers studying the conflict. The oldest victims were in their 90s and the youngest were infants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidence suggests Ethiopian military carried out massacre in Tigray<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | BBC<\/span><\/p>\n

An investigation by BBC Africa Eye has uncovered evidence that a massacre in northern Ethiopia was carried out by members of the Ethiopian military. It also reveals the precise location of the atrocity, in which at least 15 men were killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

G7 warns of human rights abuses in Ethiopia’s Tigray<\/a> | 2 April 2021 | DW<\/span><\/p>\n

G7 foreign ministers have expressed concern about human rights violations in Ethiopia’s conflict-ridden Tigray. They also welcomed an announcement that Eritrean troops would withdraw from the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018They Told Us Not to Resist\u2019: Sexual Violence Pervades Ethiopia\u2019s War<\/span><\/a> | 1 April 2021 | New York Times<\/span><\/p>\n

Rape is being used as a weapon as fighting rages in remote parts of Tigray region. \u201cEven if we had shouted,\u201d one woman said, \u201cthere was no one to listen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

‘Two bullets is enough’: Analysis of Tigray massacre video raises questions for Ethiopian <\/a>Army<\/a> | 1 April 2021 | CNN<\/span><\/p>\n

Dawit was watching television at a relative’s one-room apartment in Axum, a historic city in Ethiopia’s war-torn, northern Tigray region, in early March when a news bulletin flashed up on the screen. Graphic, unverified footage had surfaced of a mass killing near Dawit’s hometown of Mahibere Dego, in a mountainous area of central Tigray. In the shaky video Ethiopian soldiers appeared to round up a group of young, unarmed men on a wind-swept, dusty ledge before shooting them at point-blank range — picking them up by an arm or a leg and flinging or kicking their bodies off a rocky hillside like ragdolls.<\/span><\/p>\n

‘You don’t belong’: land dispute drives new exodus in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray<\/a> | 29 March 2021 | Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n

The dusty buses keep coming, dozens a day, mattresses, chairs and baskets piled on top. They stop at schools hurriedly turned into camps, disgorging families who describe fleeing from ethnic Amhara militia in Ethiopia\u2019s Tigray region.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Horn Of Africa Civil Society Forum Report On Tigray<\/a> (pdf) | 26 March 2021 | The Horn of Africa Civil Society Forum | Mekete Tigray UK<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2018 Prime Minister (PM) Abiy started a very much welcome peace process with Eritrea. An initiative for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. However, it is now clear that the talks between PM Abiy and President Isais were not about peace and normalisation of relationships; they were high-level secret preparations for war against Tigray. A Tigray whose autonomy and whose political elites emerged as mutual enemies requiring removal, especially following the September regional elections.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade.\u00a0 Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS\u2019 areas of research. 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