Briefings
29 September – 5 October 2016
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, riots erupted in Kinshasa on September 19 and 20. Opposition supporters took to the streets to protest against the postponement of presidential elections and ruling President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down. During confrontations with the authorities, dozens of people died. […]
8 – 14 September 2016
On Monday, September 12, the few opposition members who took part in the national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo walked out of the meeting due to irreconcilable differences of opinion with the government on the sequence of elections. Whereas current President Joseph Kabila proposed to hold local elections first, the opposition wanted presidential elections to be the priority. […]
1 – 7 September 2016
On September 1, facilitator Edem Kodjo initiated the national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing together government, opposition and civil society members to discuss the organisation of peaceful elections. However, several leading opposition figures, such as Etienne Tshisekedi, Moïse Katumbi and the Lucha movement, refused to engage. […]
18 – 24 August 2016
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, preparatory talks for a national dialogue were started by facilitator Edem Kodjo on August 23 in order to relieve the political tensions in the country. However, few key members of the opposition attended and the “Rassemblement” umbrella called for a nationwide “ville-morte”. […]
Arms Trade Highlights: July 2016
The present editorial is inspired by our recent experience at a European arms control event where we witnessed German arms officials seeking to whitewash Germany’s arms export policy. The double standard revealed by said officials is exemplary of the discrepancy between words and deeds as regards national arms export controls. Although far from being the only European country that can be blamed fo
4 – 17 August 2016
Over the past two weeks, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, visited his counterparts in Uganda and Rwanda. Security appeared to be high on the agenda and both neighbouring countries committed to greater security and intelligence cooperation with the DRC. During a bilateral meeting between Ugandan and Rwandan police forces, the need for closer cross-border cooperation
28 July – 3 August 2016
The return of putative opposition leader Étienne Tshisekedi (UDPS) to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday last week, generally passed rather peacefully. In Ituri, several pro-democracy demonstrators were arrested on the day of his arrival. […]
14 – 27 July 2016
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, tensions between government and opposition supporters persist. Edem Kodjo, the facilitator appointed by the African Union, announced that preliminary work for a national dialogue would start by the end of the month. However […]
7 – 13 July 2016
Last week, the United Nations has reiterated its call for political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to prevent public discontent from escalating into violence and crisis. Indeed, the uncertainty surrounding Congo’s security situation has already adversely affected the investment climate in the mining sector. […]
30 June – 6 July 2016
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, political tensions persist. The putative leader of the opposition, Moise Katumbi, blamed current President Joseph Kabila last week of not committing to leave office. The opposition platform “Rassemblement” […]
Arms Trade Highlights: May – June 2016
THERE IS NO ‘MR BIG’ by Brian Johnson-Thomas Hush – Terrorists get their weapons from governments…… Every so often one or other of us gets a phone call from some excited TV documentary producer or magazine journalist wanting to do a really big number on the, presumably, secretive villain who supplies the guns and ammunition to the likes of the Islamic State and Al Quaida wherever they happen to be
23 – 29 June 2016
On June 26, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Congolese Minister of Justice announced the development of a nationwide prevention mechanism against torture in the Democratic Republic of Congo. […]
16 – 22 June 2016
Last week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, tensions arose between displaced people and local inhabitants in Buleusa, North Kivu, over the dismantlement of several refugee camps in the area. Over the past week, at least six of the estimated 5000 refugees reportedly died of injuries and diseases. […]
9 – 15 June 2016
The Congolese opposition parties who gathered for two days in Brussels last week, decided to unite under a new umbrella organisation, called “Rassemblement” (“Rally”). They rejected dialogue with current President Kabila and demanded the organisation of presidential elections before December 19 this year, along with the President’s departure. […]
2 – 8 June 2016
The probable delay of the presidential elections continues to raise tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over a hundred representatives of several Congolese opposition parties gathered in the Belgian capital Brussels this Wednesday, June 8, in order to overcome their differences and unite their stances. […]
26 May – 1 June 2016
The bodies of the three Ugandan soldiers, who had been killed near Lake Albert along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been returned to Uganda. The Congolese police announced that a fourth soldier, who had also been reported dead, is alive and remains in detention. […]
Arms Trade Highlights: March – April 2016
This edition of IPIS’ Arms Trade Bulletin highlights two international arms transfers that continue to create a stir in arms-related media coverage. These are namely, the Heckler & Koch arms deal with Mexico – inquiry into which has seen German journalists fall into the cross hairs of prosecuting authorities –, and the Franco-Saudi-Lebanese arms deal. Mimicking the Turkish handling of journali
19 – 25 May 2016
On Saturday, May 21, four Ugandan policemen were killed near Lake Albert, along the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese soldiers are suspected to have ambushed them. The Ugandan government announced that it would consider using military force if a similar attack were to happen again. […]
12 – 18 May 2016
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the FARDC and MONUSCO launched the military operation “Usalama” on May 14 against ADF rebels in Beni territory, North Kivu. The insecure situation in the territory continues to spark protest by the civil society. On May 18, three days of “ville-morte” were announced in Beni, Butembo, and Lubero territories. […]
5 – 11 May 2016
On May 5, the civil society in Beni territory declared a day of “ville-morte” to denounce last week’s deadly attacks in Baungachu-Luna in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Seventeen people had been killed by alleged ADF rebels. The next day, members of Parliament boycotted a plenary of the National Assembly in protest against the insecurity in the province. […]
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