NEWS IN BRIEF

In the past week violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) seems to have slightly abated, but still over 15,000 people, mostly Muslim civilians, are surrounded and threatened by militia groups. Three more African peacekeepers were killed, bringing their number to 19 since December. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to the international community to send 3000 more troops, until a likely UN peacekeeping force is established, while France’s parliament voted in favour of the extension of the French military mission in the country. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has threatened France for its intervention in CAR, saying its “crimes will not remain unpunished”.

In DR Congo, various Mai-Mai militias remained active in Masisi and Walikale territories in North Kivu, and in Katanga. As part of the new national DDR-programme, 250 ex-militiamen were sent to a military training centre in Bas-Congo, in the west of the country.
In Bukavu, capital of South Kivu, police violently scattered a rally organised by Vital Kamerhe, one of president Kabila’s main political opponents, leaving over 40 wounded.
Rights groups called for ICC-indicted Sudan’s President Bashir to be arrested in Kinshasa, where he is attending a sub-regional meeting.

Confidential papers leaked by a whistleblower suggest that Dubai’s biggest gold refinery ignored guidelines designed to stop the trade in ‘conflict gold’; UN and other experts consider Dubai to be the main destination for Congolese conflict gold.

In Uganda, President Museveni signed the new anti-homosexuality law imposing harsh penalties for homosexual acts, receiving international outrage and condemnation.

IPIS’ Latest Publications

Mapping Conflict Motives: the Sudan – South Sudan border (2012-2013) | 5 February 2014 | IPIS
In “Mapping Conflict Motives: the Sudan-South Sudan border”, IPIS analyses the conflict dynamics in the wider border area spanning Sudan and South Sudan. The analysis specifically looks into the motivations and interests of the parties involved in the interstate, intrastate and local conflicts in this area.
Together with the report, a series of maps of the area of focus is available at www.ipisresearch.be/mapping/webmapping/bordersudans.

Boundary spanning: moving towards strategic stakeholder engagement | 3 February 2014 | IPIS
By Anna Bulzomi
To address complex human rights impacts, companies need to move away from responding to crises and work with communities towards creating shared value.

IPIS Insights: The 2nd Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, Geneva 2013 | January 2014 | IPIS
From the 2 – 4 December 2013, IPIS attended the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights. The Forum was established by the Human Rights Council and is under the guidance of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. IPIS’ researchers Gabriella Wass and Anna Bulzomi offer some insights into topics at the Forum that struck them as particularly interesting.

Practice What You Preach: Theory and Practice of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan in Chad | 9 January 2014 | IPIS
The past decade has seen a staggering increase in Chinese investment flows in Africa, leaping from USD 392 million in 2005 to USD 2520 million in 2012. Chinese Government officials often describe the burgeoning Sino-African ties as ‘win-win partnerships’, emphasizing how their ‘non-interference’ policy truly allows African countries to choose their own development path.
Against this background, doubts may arise with regard to the environmental and social standards applied by Chinese companies conducting business overseas, especially in post-conflict states with poor human rights records and inadequate governance structures.
The case discussed in this paper concerns the operations of the Chadian branch of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil – Part II: Protect and Remedy: Implementing State duties under the UN Framework on Business and Human Rights | December 2013 | IPIS
The following is the second in a series of four reports exploring business and human rights issues in Uganda’s oil sector. This series is a collaboration between IPIS vsw and ActionAid Uganda.
In accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, this second report assesses the duty of the Ugandan, British, French and Chinese States to prevent, investigate, punish and redress human rights abuse by businesses.

In search of clean water: human rights and the mining industry in Katanga, DRC | 27 November 2013 | IPIS
Today, around 1,8 billion people in the world do not have access to safe water. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the most water-rich country in Africa, 51 million people lack access to potable water; only 26% of the population has access to safe drinking water. This is one of the lowest access rates in the world.
In the Katanga province, rich in cobalt and copper, some industrial mining companies operate provoking significant pollution of water sources, seriously affecting the local population. Although there is a lack of comprehensive data available, several studies conducted by local civil society show environmental, health and socio-economic negative effects.

IPIS Insights: Kimberley Process: observations from the sidelines. Part I | 21 November 2013 | IPIS
Ten years after the launch of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) this paper is the first in a two part series providing an overview of where the Kimberley Process and international efforts to combat the trade in conflict diamonds currently stand. It will analyse some of the present challenges facing the system and some of the potential solutions on the table.

Travail des enfants dans le site minier d’exploitation artisanale de Bisie en territoire de Walikale. Une crise oubliée en République Démocratique du Congo | 19 November 2013 | Prince Kihangi Kyamwami
Plus de deux décennies après l’entrée en vigueur de la Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant (1989) en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), la situation des enfants dans le territoire de Walikale demeure critique.

Ambushed in Bangkok? The U.N. Panel on North Korea and the case of the IL-76 “4L-AWA” | 14 November 2013 | IPIS/TA
This new IPIS/TA report explains why the conclusion of the latest United Nations report on North Korea sanctions, about an arms flight grounded in Thailand, is not supported by facts, but based on a misalliance of wrong and misleading information, gleaned both about the cargo aircraft, its flight and the entities involved, together with erroneous interpretations of standard aviation practices made by the UN Panel of experts on North Korea.

Analysis of the interactive map of artisanal mining areas in Eastern DR Congo | 12 November 2013 | IPIS
In August 2009 the ‘International Peace Information Service’ (IPIS) published a first map of militarised mining areas in Eastern DR Congo. By 2012, the international interest in the issue had grown but the map was out-dated. To find a structural solution, IPIS sat down with the Congolese mining cadastre (CAMI) and agreed to set up a permanent system to monitor artisanal mining activities and the involvement of armed groups in the mineral exploitation and trade.
A first version of the resulting map has been published at https://ipisresearch.be//mapping/webmapping. It shows the location of nearly 800 mining sites and 85 trading centres, including information about armed groups presence and involvement, and the scale of the mining activity. The map includes at least 410 cases of illegal taxation by armed groups or the Congolese army.

‘Conflict Minerals’ initiatives in DR Congo: Perceptions of local mining communities | 12 November 2013 | IPIS
The exploitation of minerals is an important source of income for many communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Yet this mineral wealth also plays a significant role in the continuation of insecurity in parts of the country.
Over recent years, several domestic, regional and international initiatives have been developed to address the so-called ‘conflict minerals’ problem and the high level of informality in the DRC’s artisanal mining sector. These initiatives have provoked varying reactions regarding their impact on local livelihoods.
This report aims to provide insight into the impact of initiatives on the livelihood strategies of local communities in the DRC, based on field research in a wide range of mining areas; and document the perceptions of local stakeholders of these initiatives and their impacts.

IPIS Insights: Why businesses should assess human rights impacts from the outset of projects. SOCO International Oil Company in Virunga National Park, DRC | 26 August 2013 | International Peace Information Service (IPIS)
SOCO International, a British oil company, is prospecting for oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park – a World Heritage Site. For the past year, their presence has been criticised for putting a fragile environment at risk. However, more recently, their impact on human rights has also been questioned. In this Insights IPIS looks at why it is so vital for companies to employ rights-respectful processes, such as those advised in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, from the very beginning of the prospection stage.

Strijd tegen conflictmineralen: sleutel tot conflictresolutie in Oost-Congo? | 25 July  2013 | IPIS (Internationale Spectator)
De PDF van dit artikel is met toestemming van de redactie overgenomen uit de ‘Internationale Spectator, Clingendael Magazine voor Internationale Betrekkingen’, uitgegeven door de Koninklijke Van Gorcum, te Assen namens het Nederlands Instituut voor Internationale Betrekkingen ‘Clingendael’ te Den Haag.

Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil. Part I: Uganda’s oil sector and potential threats to human rights | 25 July 2013 | International Peace Information Service (IPIS) – ActionAid International Uganda
The following report is the first of a series of four collaborations between IPIS Research and ActionAid International Uganda. The series sheds a light on the oil sector in Uganda, its possible impact on human rights, and how government, companies, and civil society can best enable a positive bond between oil and the welfare of the Ugandan people.

The formalisation of artisanal mining in the DRC and Rwanda | December 2012 [April 2013] | IPIS
This report describes and evaluates initiatives to formalise the artisanal mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, in order to locate lessons learned. We hope that these perspectives will support the formation of well-informed policy and regulatory options – both by the EU and by harvesting countries – concerning the formalisation of timber production in tropical countries.
The report was commissioned by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), which is dedicated to advancing human well-being, environmental conservation and equity through providing information that leads to better informed and equitable decision making about the use and management of forests in tropical countries.

Gold and diamonds in the Central African Republic. The country’s mining sector, and related social, economic and environmental issues | 26 March 2013 | IPIS
Gold and diamonds in Central Africa easily conjure up images of conflict, rebel funding, human rights violations, and smuggling. As a country landlocked within an unstable region, neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and recently the scene of another coup, the Central African Republic (CAR) might be considered an appropriate candidate for analysis within the conflict-mineral perspective. Yet this framework would ignore the country’s mining sector’s very specific characteristics. The sector offers an essential livelihood to many households, represents the country’s second most important export product, and is organised in a particular way. Nonetheless, a wide range of issues regarding the country’s mining sector persist.
This report aims to analyse both the Central African Republic’s gold and diamond mining sector and related environmental and socio-economic issues.

Conflict and security

Recent news on conflict, security and arms trade across the Great Lakes Region 
African rapid reaction force
Long road to an African rapid reaction force | 21 February 2014 | IRIN
The African Union (AU) is rethinking how it can most effectively deploy military forces to tackle the continent’s crises. The African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) was first floated in the AU in 2013 as a stop-gap measure to counter the continued delays of an African Standby Force (ASF), which includes a quick reaction force, the Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC).

DRC

MONUSCO weekly press conference
Conférence de presse des Nations Unies du mercredi 26 février 2014 | 26 February 2014 | MONUSCO

Violence against civilians and fighting between militias in Masisi, North Kivu
RDC: massacre de Masisi, l’enquête de l’ONU | 21 February 2014 | RFI
En République démocratique du Congo, après des premières informations faisant état de la mort de 70 personnes dans une zone reculée du Masisi dans l’Est, la Mission des nations unis au Congo s’est rendue sur place pour essayer d’en savoir plus.

Déclaration du Coordonnateur Humanitaire en République Démocratique du Congo, Moustapha Soumaré, sur les exactions commises à l’encontre des civils dans le Territoire de Masisi, Nord-Kivu – Kinshasa, 24 Février 2014 | 24 February 2014 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb
RDC : la Monusco condamne les exactions contre les civils à Masisi | 25 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Près d’une quarantaine de personnes auraient été tuées et des villages incendiés depuis plusieurs semaines dans le territoire de Masisi au Nord-Kivu. Dans une déclaration faite ce lundi 24 février à Kinshasa, le coordonnateur humanitaire en RDC, condamne ces exactions commises à l’encontre des civils.

Nord-Kivu: deux milices appelées à cesser les hostilités entre elles dans le Masisi | 22 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
L’administrateur du territoire de Masisi, Dieudonné Tshishiku a appelé vendredi 21 février les miliciens des Forces de défense pour les droits de l’Homme (FDDH) et des Forces démocratiques du Congo (FDC) à cesser les combats. Un appel lancé à l’issue d’une réunion sécuritaire d’urgence, convoquée suite à leurs derniers affrontements, le même jour dans le secteur de Ngululu, dans le groupement d’Ufamandu I.

Mai-Mai Cheka occupy several villages in Walikale, North Kivu
Nord-Kivu: les Maï-Maï Cheka occupent une dizaine de localités sur l’axe Walikale-Masisi | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le NDC (Nduma Defense of Congo) du chef milicien Ntabo Ntaberizi alias Cheka occupe, depuis une semaine, une dizaine de localités sur l’axe Walikale-Masisi, à environ 70 km de Goma (Nord-Kivu).

Security situation improved in Beni, North Kivu
Nord-Kivu : la situation sécuritaire s’améliore à Kamango et à Nobili | 25 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
La situation sécuritaire s’est améliorée dans les localités de Kamango et Nobili depuis l’arrivée des militaires dans cette zone et la déroute des rebelles ougandais des ADF, il y a une dizaine de jours.

Armed attacks and cattle rustling in Uvira, South Kivu
Sud-Kivu: la société civile dénonce des attaques armées contre la population | 24 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Les attaques lancées par les hommes armés contre les civils deviennent de plus en plus fréquents au groupement de Lemera.

Sud-Kivu : 96 vaches volées en deux mois dans la plaine de la Ruzizi | 25 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Quatre-vingt-seize vaches ont été volées en deux mois dans la plaine de la Ruzizi..

Continued violence in Katanga
L’église catholique dénonce une « main noire » derrière les violences au Katanga | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Bishop Terms Violence in Katanga ‘Unspeakable’ | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | CISA
“Let us say it loud and clear that our populations are not cannon fodder,” say the Bishops of Katanga who denounce the serious situation of their province because of the violence of the “Bakata – Katanga” armed group, Fides News Service Reports.

Katanga: affrontements entre militaires et miliciens Bakata Katanga à Mukuyi | 23 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Des affrontements sont signalés depuis le samedi 22 février entre l’armée et les miliciens Maï-Maï Bakata Katanga à Mukuyi dans le territoire de Moba.

Katanga : le chef de Museka appelle au désarmement des Maï-Maï à Malemba Nkulu | 23 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le responsable de la chefferie Museka dans le territoire de Malemba Nkulu (Katanga) appelle les autorités provinciales, nationales et celles de la Monusco à désarmer les miliciens Maï-Maï actifs dans ce secteur.

Congo’s Crisis In The Shadows: Katanga on a Knife Edge | 24 February 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
With the secessionist group Bakata Katanga agitating for independence and Kabila’s support in the province waning, Katanga looks precariously balanced.

Ituri – Province Orientale
Province Orientale : le gouvernement remet des biens matériels aux ex-miliciens de FRPI | 24 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le gouvernement de la Province Orientale a remis le week-end dernier à plus de cent ex-miliciens de la de la Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI) des matelas, couvertures, habits, chaussures et des savons. C’est la toute première assistance du gouvernement provincial à ces combattants de Cobra Matata, qui se sont volontairement rendus à l’armée depuis mardi 18 février.

Province Orientale – Le FRPI toujours actif à Irumu | 24 February 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
Des miliciens du Front de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI) continuent toujours à se faire parler d’eux en Province Orientale, précisément dans le district d’Ituri. D’après certaines sources, les éléments de ce groupe armé procèdent, ces derniers temps, à des incursions dans certaines localités situées au Sud du territoire d’Irumu.

Reported raid by Angolan army in Bas-Congo
Bas-Congo: la société civile dénonce une incursion de l’armée angolaise à Tampala | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
La société civile de Songololo (Bas-Congo) dénonce la destruction de deux champs de chanvre et de quatre habitations par l’armée angolaise la semaine passée à Tampala. Elle déplore une violation du territoire congolais.

Armed groups
RDC : Quelles leçons tirer des rébellions ? | 24 February 2014 | Afrikarabia.com
Des chercheurs du Projet Usalama se sont plongés pendant 18 mois sur les motivations et les modes de fonctionnement des groupes armés en République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Une analyse instructive pour mieux comprendre les conflits dans cette région.

DDR
RDC : doutes sur le plan de réinsertion des ex-combattants du M23 | 25 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Les partenaires financiers de la RDC ne sont pas convaincus par le plan de démobilisation et de réinsertion des anciens combattants du M23 présenté par Kinshasa.

Nord-Kivu: 250 ex-combattants envoyés à Kitona | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Deux cent cinquante ex-combattants ont quitté mardi 25 février le centre de regroupement de Bweremana au Nord-Kivu pour le centre de formation militaire de Kitona dans le Bas-Congo. Le commandant du centre de Bweremana, colonel Banza Mufwankolo, indique que ces ex-miliciens proviennent de vingt-trois groupes armés dont les APCLS, Nyatura, Maï-Maï Kifuafua et Raïa Mutomboki.

Crafting a Viable DDR Strategy for Congo | 27 February 2014 | Enough Project
Implementing a viable and effective national strategy on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, or DDR, of ex-combatants of armed groups in eastern Congo is an urgent issue in the regional peace process for the Democratic Republic of Congo, argues a new Enough report.

1 year after signing Addis Framework Agreement 
RDC : Robinson salue les progrès réalisés un an après la signature de l’accord de paix | 24 February 2014 | UN News Centre
RDC : l’ONU juge que les objectifs de paix sont à portée de main | 25 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Accord d’Addis-Abeba : la communauté internationale salue les progrès réalisés | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
A l’occasion de la commémoration du premier anniversaire de l’Accord-cadre pour la paix, la sécurité et la coopération pour la République démocratique du Congo et la région, les Nations Unies et ses partenaires ont estimé que les progrès réalisés étaient indéniables et que les objectifs de paix étaient à portée de main.

RDC: peu d’avancées un an après l’accord d’Addis-Abeba | 25 February 2014 | RFI
Le 24 février 2013, onze pays d’Afrique centrale et orientale signaient l’accord-cadre d’Addis-Abeba. Ces Etats se sont engagés à ne pas soutenir les groupes armés actifs – notamment en RDC – et à réformer police et armée. Mais aujourd’hui, le mécanisme national de suivi de ces réformes semble au point mort.

ICC-indicted Sudan president Bashir in Kinshasa
Sudan’s Bashir in DRC Amid Calls for His Arrest | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | Sudan Tribune
A group of activists have urged the Congolese authorities to ensure the arrest of the Sudanese President, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur.

Sudan President in DR Congo | 25 February 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Bashir Faces ICC Charges of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity

President of the Assembly calls upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to respect its obligations under the Rome Statute | 26 February 2014 | Reliefweb | International Criminal Court (ICC)
In light of the information that the President of Sudan, Mr. Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, arrived in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to attend a sub-regional meeting, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, recalls that two warrants of arrest issued by the Court against Mr. Omar Al-Bashir are outstanding.

RDC: 90 ONG exigent l’arrestation du président soudanais Omar El-Béchir | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
RDC : pourquoi Kinshasa ne peut pas arrêter Omar el-Béchir sur son sol | 26 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Congo must apprehend President Bashir and transfer him to The Hague to face genocide charges | 26 February 2014 | Enough Project
Près de quatre-vingt-dix associations œuvrant en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) ont réclamé l’arrestation du président Omar el-Béchir arrivé mardi 25 février à Kinshasa pour participer au sommet des chefs d’Etat africains sur le Marché commun de l’Afrique de l’Est et Australe (Comesa).

Mende appelle les ONG réclamant l’arrestation d’Omar El-Bechir à la compréhension | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
CPI: la RDC n’arrêtera pas le président soudanais Omar el-Béchir | 26 February 2014 | RFI
Le porte-parole du gouvernement, Lambert Mende, a appelé mercredi 26 février les ONG réclamant l’arrestation et le transfert à la Cour pénale internationale (CPI) du président soudanais Omar El-Bechir, à la compréhension.

Rwanda

FDLR
Rwanda: Tanzania Politician Admits Hosting FDLR Commanders in Dar es Salaam | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | News of Rwanda
The home of Reverend Christopher Mtikila has on several occasions hosted senior commanders of Rwandan FDLR rebels transiting through Dar es Salaam Tanzania in efforts to link them up with the outside work, the UN and the politician himself have confirmed.

Uganda

Ugandan army in South Sudan
Ugandan troops withdrawal pending on African Emergency Forces deployment | 20 February 2014 | Radio Miraya
The Uganda government says it will withdraw troops from South Sudan as soon as an African emergency force is ready to take over.

Uganda Approves Shs120bn for S. Sudan Military Operations | 21 February 2014 | allAfrica | Sudan Tribune
The Ugandan cabinet has approved Shs120 billion as the supplementary budget to finance its army (UPDF) operations in neighbouring South Sudan.

Why Uganda refuses to withdraw | 21 February 2014 | Africa Confidential
Calls from the United States and Ethiopia, its regional ally, for Uganda to withdraw its forces from South Sudan are falling on deaf ears in Kampala. President Yoweri Museveni and his diplomats insist the troops are in South Sudan as part of a bilateral arrangement between two sovereign states, arguing that its intervention prevented far worse losses than the around 10,000 people killed in the conflict so far. Uganda has had troops in South Sudan for years, mainly as part of operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army.

Central African Republic

Security situation
Mapping Central African Republic’s bloodshed | 20 February 2014 | Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera tracks the violence and the unfolding humanitarian tragedy of this underreported crisis.

Central African Republic militia says will only disarm after Muslim rebels do | 22 February 2014 | Reuters
A powerful militia in Central African Republic said on Saturday it will only disarm once its main rivals, the mainly Muslim Seleka fighters, lay down their weapons, a deadlock that risks prolonging the crisis in the war-torn country.

Centrafrique : trois civils musulmans assassinés par balle à Bangui | 22 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique | AFP
Trois civils musulmans ont été assassinés par balle samedi à Bangui par une foule en colère, après l’arrêt du taxi qui les transportait près de l’aéroport.

Centrafrique: tension dans une prison où sont détenus des anti-balakas | 23 February 2014 | RFI
Centrafrique: La Misca déjoue une tentative d’évasion à la prison de Bangui | 24 February 2014 | allAfrica | Les dépêches de Brazzaville
Enquête sur la prison de Ngaragba en RCA | 24 February 2014 | allAfrica | Cameroon Tribune
La Mission internationale de soutien à la Centrafrique sous conduite africaine (MISCA) a annoncé avoir déjoué, le 24 février, une tentative d’évasion des anti-balaka arrêtés le 15 février pour violences contre les musulmans

Chad troops kill civilians in Central African Republic: residents | 24 February 2014 | Reuters
Chadian peacekeepers shot dead three civilians in a Christian neighborhood of the capital of Central African Republic on Monday, local residents said.
In another incident overnight, two Chadian peacekeepers were shot and killed and another wounded, said Elio Yao, a spokesman for the African Union peacekeeping force, MISCA.

Des soldats tchadiens tués en Centrafrique | 24 February 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
Au moins une dizaine de morts depuis dimanche au quartier Combattant à Bangui | 24 February 2014 | Radio Ndeke Luka
A Bangui, les violences ont fait dimanche plus d’une dizaine de morts dont trois militaires tchadiens. Les accrochages ont opposé dimanche, des soldats tchadiens de la MISCA aux anti-balaka dans le quartier Combattant non loin de l’aéroport. Trois soldats tchadiens ont et tués puis en représailles ce lundi matin, les soldats tchadiens auraient abattu quatre personnes dont un militaire centrafricain, à hauteur du Camp Mpoko, base de la MISCA.

Le corridor Garoua-Boulaï-Bangui sécurisé par la Misca | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | Cameroon Tribune
Plus de 2000 Camerounais rapatriés grâce aux éléments de la force africaine.

Armed groups surround thousands in Central African Republic: U.N | 25 February 2014 | Reuters
Over 15,000 people in Central African Republic, mostly Muslim civilians in makeshift camps, are surrounded and being threatened by armed militia groups, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency said on Tuesday.

CAR Militia Leader Arrested in Congo Brazzaville | 26 February 2014 | Voice of America
*VOA incorrectly reported Wednesday that anti-Balaka leader Patrice Edouard Ngaissona had been arrested. VOA regrets the error.
The African Union has confirmed the arrest in the Republic of Congo of Patrice Edouard Ngaissona, the self-proclaimed coordinator of the anti-Balaka armed movement.

Tirs à Bangui, Ngaissona dément son arrestation | 26 February 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
La situation était confuse en début d’après-midi ce mercredi au PK 12 à la sortie nord de Bangui. En réaction à l’agression de deux des leurs par des anti-balaka, les combattants de l’ex-Séléka casernés au PK 11 ont riposté à l’arme lourde et légère.

RCA : l’abbé Nary protège quelques 1200 musulmans à Carnot | 26 February 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
Dans la crise qui embrase la République centrafricaine, certains Centrafricains prennent le risque de protéger les déplacés en dépit des menaces à leur propre sécurité.

UN
Central African Republic: UN’s Amos Calls for More International Troops to CAR | 20 February 2014 | Voice of America
United Nations emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos has wrapped a two-day visit to the Central African Republic. Amos says more must be done to protect civilians who she says “have born the brunt of unspeakable violence.”

UN officials urge collective action to save Central African Republic from current ‘nightmare’ | 20 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Centrafrique : Ban Ki-moon propose un plan en six points pour stabiliser la situation | 20 February 2014 | UN News Centre
U.N. chief wants 3,000 more troops for Central African Republic | 20 February 2014 | Reuters
Ban Ki-moon veut 3000 hommes supplémentaires en Centrafrique | 21 February 2014 | RFI
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday appealed to the international community to send an additional 3,000 troops and police to Central African Republic to combat worsening sectarian violence until a likely U.N. peacekeeping force is established.

‘You are not alone,’ Ban tells people of Central African Republic in appeal to end conflict | 22 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Dans un message vidéo au peuple centrafricain, Ban appelle à mettre fin aux violences intercommunautaires | 22 February 2014 | UN News Centre
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has again taken to the airwaves to deliver a personal appeal to the people of strife-riven Central African Republic (CAR) to lay down their weapons, come together, and end the spiralling bloodshed and inter-communal violence that has plagued the country for months on end.

Armed groups surround thousands in Central African Republic: U.N | 25 February 2014 | Reuters
Over 15,000 people in Central African Republic, mostly Muslim civilians in makeshift camps, are surrounded and being threatened by armed militia groups, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency said on Tuesday.

Centrafrique : première visite du Président de la Commission internationale d’enquête | 26 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Le Président de la Commission internationale chargée d’enquêter sur les violations des droits de l’homme en République centrafricaine, Bernard Acho Muna, a entamé mercredi sa première visite dans le pays depuis sa nomination le mois dernier.

France
France risks long stay after misjudging Central African Republic | 23 February 2014 | Reuters
When France sent troops to halt violence between Christians and Muslims in Central African Republic, commanders named the mission Sangaris after a local butterfly to reflect its short life. Three months later, it is clear they badly miscalculated.

Military chief says violence abating in Central African Republic | 23 February 2014 | RFI English
The head of the French military mission in the Central African Republic has said sectarian violence has abated in the country since the arrival of peacekeepers in December.

Général Philippe Pontiès, chef de l’Eufor-RCA | 23 February 2014 | RFI
« Cette mission consiste à conduire une opération de transition en République centrafricaine, pour contribuer sur la zone de Bangui, à l’établissement d’un environnement sécurisé. »

Aqmi menace la France pour son intervention en Centrafrique | 23 February 2014 | RFI
Dans un communiqué, al-Qaïda au Maghreb islamique (Aqmi) condamne les violences contre les musulmans en Centrafrique et menace la France pour son intervention. Ce communiqué fait suite à un autre des talibans afghans sur la situation en RCA et à une mobilisation sur le web jihadiste francophone, même si aucune présence jihadiste n’a encore été signalée en RCA.

France draws up Central African Republic sanctions list, includes ex-leader Bozize | 25 February 2014 | Reuters
France has drawn up a list of eight citizens of Central African Republic, including former President Francois Bozize, on whom it believes the United Nations should impose sanctions, diplomatic sources said.

France: la prolongation de la mission Sangaris en débat à l’Assemblée | 25 February 2014 | RFI
Centrafrique : le Parlement français débat de la prolongation de Sangaris | 25 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
French Parliament to Back Continued Central Africa Mission | 25 February 2014 | Bloomberg
A motion approving a continuation of France’s military mission in the Central African Republic is guaranteed to pass parliament after receiving the support of Christian Jacob, party whip for the opposition UMP party.
France sent 1,600 troops to the Central African Republic in December to back up African forces trying to prevent ethnic fighting in the former French colony. Faced with continued violence, President Francois Hollande said two weeks ago that he would send another 400 soldiers.

Right joins left in French parliament vote for CAR military mission | 26 February 2014 | RFI English
Centrafrique: la France prolonge l’opération militaire Sangaris | 25 February 2014 | RFI
Centrafrique – France : l’opération Sangaris prolongée | 25 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Le parlement français autorise la prolongation de l’opération Sangaris en Centrafrique | 26 February 2014 | Radio Ndeke Luka
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has welcomed parliament’s vote to continue France’s military presence in the Central African Republic. The majority of the mainstream right backed the move while not forgetting to criticise President François Hollande.

Analysis, background, comments, appeals
RCA: les dangers des convois | 20 February 2014 | BBC Afrique
L’urgence en Centrafrique. Selon l’ONU, plus deux millions de personnes, soit la moitie des habitants du pays, ont besoin d’une aide humanitaire. Pendant ce temps, les évacuations de musulmans se poursuivent. Une fois par mois, la force pan-africaine, la MISCA, organise un convoi de civils vers le Cameroun. Notre envoyé spécial Kassim Kayira a accompagné ce convoi lors de son périlleux voyage.

NGO Coalition Letter on the Central African Republic and South Sudan | 20 February 2014 | Enough Project
Over two dozen humanitarian organizations and NGOs have issued a joint appeal to Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Director of Office of Management and Budget Sylvia M. Burwell in advance of President Obama’s FY2015 Budget request to Congress, asking them to fulfill existing U.S. commitments in South Sudan and anticipate growing needs in the Central African Republic.

RCA: ces «amazones» anti-balaka du fleuve Oubangui | 23 February 2014 | RFI
Coincée entre Bangui et la RDC sur le fleuve Oubangui, l’île de Bangossoa accueille en ce moment des centaines de réfugiés – en plus des natifs de l’île – venus se mettre à l’abri des violences qui ont secoué ces derniers mois la capitale centrafricaine. Ils viennent de tous les quartiers de Bangui et tentent de survivre, tant bien que mal, sans l’aide d’ONG et sous la protection de jeunes filles anti-balaka.

Centrafrique : Michel Djotodia, cool à Cotonou… Mais jusqu’à quand ? | 24 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Exilé au Bénin, l’ex-président centrafricain, Michel Djotodia, s’est bien adapté à sa nouvelle vie et joue les gentlemen-farmers. Mais la Cour pénale internationale pourrait mettre fin à cette paisible retraite…

Central African Republic: Making the Mission Work | 24 February 2014 | International Crisis Group
By failing to engage when Crisis Group and others warned that the Central African Republic had become a phantom state, the international community has now had to become much more heavily involved, at much greater expense, after horrifying loss of life and massive displacement, with much greater odds of failure.

Le pari du rapprochement entre Tchadiens et Centrafricains | 24 February 2014 | RFI
Le déferlement de violences de ces derniers mois contre les populations musulmanes a conduit à l’exode de plusieurs dizaines de milliers de Tchadiens qui vivaient en Centrafrique. Difficile d’enrayer le discours de haine qui s’est répandu à cette occasion. Mais une association vient de se créer au sein de la diaspora et veut porter un autre message, un message de réconciliation entre Tchadiens et Centrafricains.

Centrafrique : la paix à tout prix | 24 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Dans le pays, la situation s’envenime et les efforts pour arrêter ce qui semble bien être une épuration religieuse demeurent pour l’instant insuffisants. Mais avec le doublement des effectifs de la mission africaine et l’arrivée d’un contingent européen, la tendance pourrait s’inverser.

Centrafrique : avec 19 tués depuis décembre, la Misca paie un lourd tribut sur le terrain | 26 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
La force africaine en Centrafrique, la Misca, a perdu dix-neuf de ses soldats depuis décembre. Un bilan qui n’empêche pas la population de se méfier de ses diverses composantes.

Centrafrique : pourquoi les Américains sont réticents à l’envoi de Casques bleus | 26 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Au Conseil de sécurité, il existe encore des réticences américaines à l’envoi d’une opération de maintien de la paix (OMP) en Centrafrique, mais elles sont essentiellement financières.

The Central African Conflict is about Far More than Religion | 26 February 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
CAR violence has been painted in largely religious terms, obscuring deeper dynamics. But these more complex aspects must be recognised if resolution efforts are to be effective.

Conflict in the Central African Republic: it’s not just about religion | 26 February 2014 | Institute for Security Studies
The crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) has left humanitarian organisations, international peacekeepers and observers frantically searching for solutions to stop the conflict.

From the Sahel to the Savannah: Could Islamist Militants Set Up Shop in the CAR? | 26 February 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
The Central African Republic has been described as the ‘next Somalia’ or ‘new Mali’, but Islamist militants wanting to deploy there would face big, if not insurmountable, challenges.

Humanitarian news

Non-comprehensive overview of humanitarian news & events, including refugee and IDP issues

From Syria to Central African Republic, how to invest in refugees | 26 February 2014 | The Guardian
As scenes from Syria’s Yarmouk camp shock the world, our expert panel explores the ways the development community can go beyond meeting basic needs in refugee camps.

DRC

Nord-Kivu : des familles déplacées sans assistance humanitaire à Masisi | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi

La crise humanitaire perdure au Katanga, selon Ocha | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le nombre de personnes déplacées est passé de 55 000 en 2011 à 402 000 actuellement, indique le bureau des Nations unies pour la coordination des affaires humanitaires (Ocha) dans son bulletin de janvier dernier.

Katanga: des centaines de déplacés ont fui les Bakata Katanga à Kabola et Kikomo | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi

RDC : le gouvernement et l’Onu créent un cadre national de concertation humanitaire | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le ministre congolais de l’Intérieur, Richard Muyej Mangez, a annoncé vendredi 21 février la création d’un cadre national de concertation humanitaire réunissant le gouvernement congolais et les organisations des Nations unies.

L’UNICEF lance un appel de 125,9 millions dollars US pour aider plus de 6,8 millions d’enfants affectés par les crises humanitaires en République Démocratique du Congo  | 21 February 2014 | UNICEF | Reliefweb

Plaidoyer pour le retour des réfugiés congolais du Burundi, de l’Ouganda et de la Tanzanie | 24 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Environ 60 000 réfugiés congolais, vivant au Burundi, en Ouganda et en Tanzanie, désirent retourner dans leur pays d’origine..

Katanga: l’ONG Première Urgence à la rescousse de 81 000 vulnérables de Manono et Pweto | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi

Equateur : certains réfugiés centrafricains de Mole boudent les camps du HCR | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi

UNOCHA bulletins
Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu N° 07/14, 20 février 2014 | 20 February 2014 | UNOCHA

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Sud-Kivu N° 07/14, 26 février 2014 | 26 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Katanga N° 07/14, 26 février 2014 | 26 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Rwanda

New Refugee Camp Opened in Gisagara | 19 February 2014 | Rwanda Focus | allAfrica
A new camp for Congolese refugees opens in Gisagara District | 20 February 2014 | Government of Rwanda | Reliefweb
The ministry of disaster management and refugees affairs (Midimar) officially opened another camp for Congolese refugees at Mugombwa sector in Gisagara district on Wednesday.

Uganda

Fleeing and forgotten – South Sudanese refugees in Uganda | 25 February 2014 | Reliefweb | Oxfam

Central African Republic

Nearly 20,000 Central African refugees fled to Cameroon this month – UN agency | 21 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Forte hausse du nombre de réfugiés centrafricains au Cameroun, selon le HCR | 21 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Almost 20,000 people from the Central African Republic (CAR) have crossed into Cameroon since the beginning of February to escape the ongoing violence in their homeland, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

Central African Republic: Population Displacement as of 20 February 2014 | 24 February 2014 | ECHO | Reliefweb

ECHO Factsheet – 20 February 2014 – Central African Republic | 21 February 2014 | ECHO | Reliefweb

Central African Republic Situation External Regional Update #3 – 13-19 February 2014 | 21 February 2014 | UNHCR | Reliefweb

Central African Republic Emergency Update #8, 1 to 14 February 2014 | 22 February 2014 | UNHCR | Reliefweb

RCA : la crise nuit gravement au commerce local | 22 February 2014 | RFI
La crise en RCA affecte durement l’économie locale. L’insécurité nuit à l’approvisionnement, les vendeurs n’arrivent pas à renouveler leurs stocks et la population n’a pas assez d’argent pour faire marcher le commerce.

Cameroon’s Muslim Refugees Return Home | 24 February 2014 | Voice of America
Cameroon’s military is bringing home the last of some 2,000 Muslim citizens who had taken refuge in the Cameroonian ambassador’s residence in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). They tell stories of atrocities committed by the anti-balaka Christian militias in CAR.

Bouar, République centrafricaine – « ceux qui partent prennent de gros risques » | 24 February 2014 | allAfrica | MSF
Alors que la violence continue de se propager dans tout le nord-ouest de la République centrafricaine (RCA), MSF a ouvert un nouveau projet à Bouar, une ville très touchée par le conflit et ses conséquences.

Central African Republic: UN urges better security, more resources to aid civilians | 25 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Centrafrique : l’ONU s’inquiète d’une crise alimentaire régionale due à l’exode | 25 February 2014 | UN News Centre
WFP Warns Of Regional Crisis Due To Mass Exodus From Violent Central African Republic | 25 February 2014 | WFP | Reliefweb
Le PAM s’inquiète d’une crise régionale due à l’exode causé par la violence en Centrafrique | 25 February 2014 | WFP | Reliefweb
As thousands of people continue to flee violence across the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is warning that neighbouring countries are struggling with more than 150,000 new arrivals in urgent need of assistance.

Le HCR appelle à protéger 15 000 personnes directement menacées | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | UNHCR
Le HCR a appelé mardi à améliorer la situation de sécurité en République centrafricaine afin de protéger plus de 15 000 personnes dans 18 localités actuellement encerclées et menacées par des groupes armés au nord-ouest et au sud-ouest du pays.

New UN programme aims to help Central African Republic communities heal, rebuild | 26 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Centrafrique : le PNUD lance un projet pour aider à reconstruire le tissu social | 26 February 2014 | UN News Centre
The United Nations development agency today launched an initiative to promote peace-building and social cohesion among the Central African Republic’s (CAR) strife-riven communities, while also urging donors to fill a $22 million gap to ensure the project fulfills its objectives.

Des milliers de réfugiés centrafricains à N’Djamena – “au Tchad pour quoi faire ?” | 26 February 2014 | allAfrica | MSF
En l’espace de deux mois, près de 15 000 personnes en provenance de Bangui, capitale de la République centrafricaine, sont arrivées par avion à N’Djamena.

RCA: malnutrition et insécurité menacent les réfugiés à l’étranger | 26 February 2014 | RFI

Equateur : certains réfugiés centrafricains de Mole boudent les camps du HCR | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi

Justice and Tribunals

Selected articles on criminal justice proceedings regarding crimes committed in the Great Lakes Region
The ICC and Africa
International criminal justice in Africa: it’s not all about the ICC | 21 February 2014 | Afrikarabia.com
The tension between the African Union (AU) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been well documented. Last year, the AU called for the cases against the leaders of Kenya and Sudan to be deferred, and member states have reportedly been encouraged to ‘speak with one voice’ against the prosecution of African heads of states for international crimes by the ICC.

CPI : quelle justice pour l’Afrique ? | 25 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Des enquêtes visant exclusivement des ressortissants du continent, une politique du deux poids deux mesures : les accusations fusent contre la CPI, qui voit sa légitimité mise en doute. Remplit-elle correctement sa mission ? Deux juristes répondent.

 DRC

Minova rape trial
RDC: fin des auditions des victimes dans le procès Minova | 20 February 2014 | RFI
En République démocratique du Congo (RDC), les auditions des victimes dans le procès Minova se sont terminées mercredi. Pendant sept jours, la cour militaire opérationnelle avait été spécialement délocalisée sur les lieux du crime pour entendre les victimes présumées de viols et de pillages.

Rwanda

Simbikangwa genocide trial in Paris
Procès Simbikangwa: des témoignages à charge bien fragiles | 21 February 2014 | RFI
Le procès de Pascal Simbikangwa, jugé pour complicité dans le génocide de 1994, se poursuit devant la cour d’assises de Paris. Ce jeudi 20 février, la cour a entendu les premiers témoignages à charge. Des témoignages qui paraissent bien fragiles.

Génocide rwandais: des témoignages à charge contre Pascal Simbikangwa | 24 February 2014 | RFI
Le procès de Pascal Simbikangwa devant la cour d’assises de Paris entre dans sa quatrième semaine. Cet ancien officier des renseignements rwandais est poursuivi pour complicité de crimes de guerre et complicité de génocide dans son pays en 1994. Jusqu’à présent, la cour s’est penchée sur le contexte historique du Rwanda ainsi que sur la personnalité et le parcours professionnel de l’accusé. Ce lundi 24 février, elle a commencé à entendre les dépositions des témoins à charge.

Rwanda – Procès Simbikangwa : des membres des milices Interahamwe vont témoigner | 24 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Rwanda – Procès Simbikangwa : “Il a dit qu’il fallait tuer les Tutsis” | 24 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique

Procès Simbikangwa : un ancien colonel français dénonce un “”génocide judiciaire” des Hutus” | 24 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique

Génocide rwandais: Simbikangwa aurait joué un rôle central | 25 February 2014 | RFI

French court blocks extradition of genocide suspects
Top French court blocks extradition of Rwandan genocide suspects | 26 February 2014 | RFI English
Rwanda genocide: France blocks extraditions | 26 February 2014 | BBC Africa
Génocide rwandais: la justice française s’oppose à trois extraditions | 26 February 2014 | RFI
La justice française rejette la demande d’extradition de Kigali pour trois Rwandais | 26 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
La plus haute instance judiciaire en France s’oppose à l’extradition de trois rwandais | 26 February 2014 | allAfrica | Hirondelle News Agency
France’s highest court has ruled against the extradition of three Rwandans wanted in Kigali for their alleged role in anti-Tutsi genocide in 1994. The Cour de Cassation declared that the men could not be judged for a crime that was legally defined after the massacres took place.

Rwanda: Kigali peine à juger les présumés génocidaires | 26 February 2014 | RFI
La justice française a rejeté ce mercredi 26 février les demandes d’extradition de trois Rwandais réclamés par Kigali pour leur implication présumée dans le génocide de 1994, alors qu’un procès très attendu à Kigali a encore été reporté aujourd’hui. Vingt ans après le génocide, le Rwanda n’a toujours pas la main sur les procès des présumés génocidaires.

Anger As French Court Overturns Extradition Order of Genocide Suspects | 27 February 2014 | allAfrica | The New Times (Kigali)
Rwanda has expressed disappointment in a French court’s decision overturning a previous ruling that approved the extradition to Rwanda of two Genocide suspects.

ICTR – Acquitted but undesirable
TPIR – Acquittés par la justice internationale mais toujours indésirables | 21 February 2014 | Hirondelle News Agency
Malgré leur acquittement par la justice internationale, aucun pays ne veut d’eux sur son sol. Depuis une dizaine de jours, ce sont neuf anciennes personnalités rwandaises que le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR) est obligé de nourrir, loger et protéger, faute de pouvoir les relocaliser.

Central African Republic

Justice a challenge for CAR governement
La justice, un défi pour le gouvernement centrafricain | 25 February 2014 | RFI
En Centrafrique, la lutte contre l’impunité est une priorité pour la nouvelle ministre de la Justice, Isabelle Gaudeuille. Seulement, le secteur judiciaire est à genoux et tente difficilement de se redresser, pour poursuivre les auteurs des crimes, du délinquant au criminel de guerre, sans structure et sans moyen.

Natural resource exploitation, governance and trade

Minerals, energy (oil & gas, hydro and solar), poaching, logging, foreign investment, trade, environmental issues

Valuing natural resources critical to Africa’s ‘green economy’ growth – UN | 23 February 2014 | UN News Centre
The next wave of investment and innovation in Africa will be driven by the need for new energy resources, wealth generation and job creation, the head of the United Nations environment agency told regional leaders, making a case for the need to place value on natural resources.

Afrique subsaharienne : et si on remettait le courant ? | 26 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Séparer les activités de production, de transport et de distribution de l’énergie, et répartir clairement les rôles entre secteurs public et privé. Telle est la recette mise en oeuvre dans plusieurs États subsahariens pour répondre, enfin, aux besoins des habitants.

DRC

Dubai conflict gold audit failures went unpublished
Revealed: Why Dubai’s first conflict gold audit never saw the light of day | 25 February 2014 | Global Witness
According to a former partner at Ernst & Young, the global accountancy firm turned a blind eye when a report of major audit failures at Dubai’s biggest gold refinery went unpublished. A Global Witness report released today, City of Gold, considers the implications.

Confidential papers raise fears over conflict gold | 26 February 2014 | The Guardian
UN experts track Dubai gold trading activity in conflict-torn DRC | 25 February 2014 | The Guardian
Papers show firm accepted gold from customers walking in off the street with no paperwork.

HP facilitates reporting on conflict minerals
HP Enhances Manufacturers’ Visibility Across Global Supply Chain | 25 February 2014 | HP | Marketwired
HP today announced a new enhancement to the HP Compliance Data Exchange that will enable manufacturers to accurately and efficiently report the presence of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries in their supply chains.

Mining code
Miners and government fail to agree on Congo mining code | 27 February 2014 | Mining Weekly | Reuters
Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has extended talks with mining companies by a week to try to overcome differences over proposed tax changes in a draft mining code, a business group said on Wednesday.

Copper production on the rise
Congo’s Record Copper Production to Spur 2014 Growth, IMF Says | 25 February 2014 | Bloomberg
DRC copper output rises 52% in 2013 – IMF | 26 February 2014 | Mining Weekly | Reuters
Le FMI salue la stabilité du cadre macro-économique en RDC | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Economic growth in the Democratic Republic of Congo may accelerate to 8.7 percent, spurred by record copper production, the International Monetary Fund said.
Congo produced 942,000 metric tons of copper in 2013, up 52% from the year before.

Congo Trumps Zambia as Top African Copper Miner, CRU Says | 26 February 2014 | Bloomberg
Copper mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year probably surpassed Zambian output for the first time since 1988, making it Africa’s biggest producer, according to CRU Group.

Lundin Mining
Lundin Mining Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results | 20 February 2014 | Lunding Mining Corporation | Marketwired
Toronto, Ontario – Lundin Mining Corporation today reported net earnings of $42.1 million ($0.07 per share) for the quarter and $136.7 million ($0.23 per share) for the year ended December 31, 2013. Cash flows of $53.9 million were generated from operations in the quarter and $153.7 million for the year, not including the Company’s significant attributable cash flows from Tenke Fungurume of $141.8 million.

Randgold Resources
Randgold Resources: Kibali Takes Next Step to Full Production | 24 February 2014 | Randgold Resources | Marketwired
Randgold commissions sulphide circuit at DRC flagship | 25 February 2014 | Mining Weekly
Commissioning of the sulphide circuit at the Kibali gold mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo is underway, Randgold Resources chief executive Mark Bristow announced here today. Kibali started production from its open pit through its oxide circuit last September and completion of the sulphide circuit will significantly advance its development as a world class gold mining complex.

Mines : Mark Bristow, le dénicheur de pépites de Randgold Resources | 24 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Malgré la chute du cours de l’or, Mark Bristow, le PDG de Rangold Resources, ne se fait pas de souci pour sa société. Fort de gisements prometteurs au Mali et en RD Congo, il prévoit d’augmenter sa production de 30 % en 2014.

Alphamin Resources
Alphamin Commences Deep Drilling on Its 100% Owned Bisie Tin Project, DRC | 25 February 2014 | Alphamin Resources Corp. | Marketwired
Alphamin Resources Corp. is pleased to announce that it has commenced deep diamond drilling on the Mpama North1 target on its wholly owned Bisie Tin Prospect (Bisie Project) in east central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Power for mining
Congo-K/Zambia: AEE Power bursts on scene | 25 February 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
The Spanish concern AEE Power, a subsidiary of Eurofinsa, has agreed with Actividades de Construccion y Servicios (ACS) to jointly construct a second interconnection with a capacity of 220kV between Zambia and Congo-K.

Le Katanga pourrait atteindre une production de cuivre de 1,8 million de tonnes avec la centrale thermique de la Gécamines | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
La Générale des carrières des mines (Gécamines) a décidé de construire une centrale thermique qui produira jusqu’à 500 mégawatt pour combler « le déficit en électricité de 332 mégawatts » ayant causé de « grosses pertes de production de cuivre ».

Hydropower – Inga
Bernard Diayele – ” Le gouvernement congolais tient à son projet de Grand Inga” | 25 February 2014 | allAfrica | Les dépêches de Brazzaville
INTERVIEW
Dans un entretien le 25 février avec Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, le coordonnateur de la Cellule de gestion d’Inga 3, l’ingénieur Bernard Diayele, réaffirme l’engagement de la RDC, de se doter de cet ouvrage qui soutiendra un boom économique du pays.

Ugandan court to release ivory smuggled from DRC
Ugandan court to release smuggled ivory | 26 February 2014 | The Guardian blog
On the eve of World Wildlife Day, court orders release of 2.9 tonnes of ivory destined for sale in China and the UAE.

Fund for protected areas launched
RDC : lancement du Fonds Okapi pour la réhabilitation des parcs | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Préservation des aires protégées / Fonds Okapi – Les choses sérieuses commencent | 20 February 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
Le Fonds Okapi pour la réhabilitation et la restauration des parcs et aires protégées en RDC a démarré ces activités mercredi 19 février.

Civil society opposes oil exploration in Virunga National Park
La société civile opposée à l’exploitation du pétrole dans le parc de Virunga | 26 February 2014 | Digitalcongo.net
Le samedi 22 février 2014 les organisations de la Société Civile du Nord-Kivu ont organisé une marche de protestation contre le projet de l’exploitation du pétrole dans le Parc de Virunga.

Reported customs fraud by Republican Guard
Nord-Kivu : des agents de la DGDA se disent victimes d’arrestation arbitraire | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Des agents de la Direction générale des douanes et accises (DGDA) ont affirmé avoir été arrêtés arbitrairement jeudi 20 février à Goma pendant qu’ils s’opposaient au dédouanement frauduleux de deux véhicules par le commandant de la Garde républicaine (GR) à la frontière avec le Rwanda. Ce dernier a nié les faits.

Zambia-DRC border unsafe
Zambia: Conflict On DRC, Zambia Border Threatens Regional Trade | 21 February 2014 | IPS
Truck driver Alfred Ndlovu transports cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mineral rich Katanga Province to South Africa twice a month. He has been doing this for the last five years but now he is considering giving it up because he fears for his life every time he crosses the border.

Rwanda

Minerals
Rwanda Minerals Sector Grows | 24 February 2014 | East African Business Week | allAfrica
Rwanda has been listed among the 20 countries with an abundance of minerals in sub-Saharan Africa. According to ‘Data Mining in Africa Country Investment Guide 2014’, ‘Such minerals bring in more income to the country if exported’.

Power
Rwanda: Belgium Gives U.S.$23 Million for Rwanda Power | 24 February 2014 | East Africa Business Week | allAfrica
Belgium has stepped in to boost Rwanda’s infrastructure budget by giving $30 million including $23 million specifically for increasing electricity grid connections in rural areas.

Uganda

Ugandan court to release ivory smuggled from DRC
Ugandan court to release smuggled ivory | 26 February 2014 | The Guardian blog
On the eve of World Wildlife Day, court orders release of 2.9 tonnes of ivory destined for sale in China and the UAE.

Oil
Will East Africa’s new oil and gas producers get it right? | 19 February 2014 | Oil in Uganda

Nwoya, Buliisa Residents Live in Fear of Oil Waste | 20 February 2014 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica

Mining
Uganda: Karamoja Remains Most Vulnerable to Human Rights Abuse in Uganda–Report | 21 February 2014 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
Karamoja remains Uganda’s most vulnerable sub-region when it comes to human rights abuses by government agencies, a new report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Uganda says.

Grabbing Karamoja’s Gold | 21 February 2014 | The Independent (Kampala) | allAfrica
Families work together, mining gold in Sodoku, Kaabong District. Artisanal mining is a key source of income for many communities in Karamoja durring the dry season. A mining company recently acquired a licence to explore on this land raising many concerns for the rights of the community.

Central African Republic

New oil and mining minister
Olivier Malibangar | 25 February 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
The oil and mining industries in Central African Republic are now in the hands of Olivier Malibangar, former adviser to the former minister in the sector, Herbert Gontran Djono Ahaba.

Other

Cameroon
Cameroon Explores Mineral Wealth by Air | 24 February 2014 | Voice of America
The world’s major mining interests – including Australia’s Sundance, Canada’s Rio Tinto Alcan and China’s SinoSteel – will get a new look at the minerals hidden beneath Cameroon when the government completes a sophisticated and expanded aerial survey of 457,000 square miles of the nation.

Regulation, voluntary initiatives, and CSR

Selected articles on legal and voluntary initiatives relating to natural resources and good governance
Europe vote to end shell companies
European Parliament votes to end anonymous shell companies | 20 February 2014 | Global Witness
Today two key committees of the European Parliament voted in favour of creating public registries of who ultimately owns and controls companies and trusts registered in the EU, in a move welcomed by Global Witness.

DRC

Dubai conflict gold audit failures went unpublished
Revealed: Why Dubai’s first conflict gold audit never saw the light of day | 25 February 2014 | Global Witness
According to a former partner at Ernst & Young, the global accountancy firm turned a blind eye when a report of major audit failures at Dubai’s biggest gold refinery went unpublished. A Global Witness report released today, City of Gold, considers the implications.

Confidential papers raise fears over conflict gold | 26 February 2014 | The Guardian
UN experts track Dubai gold trading activity in conflict-torn DRC | 25 February 2014 | The Guardian
Papers show firm accepted gold from customers walking in off the street with no paperwork.

HP facilitates reporting on conflict minerals
HP Enhances Manufacturers’ Visibility Across Global Supply Chain | 25 February 2014 | HP | Marketwired
HP today announced a new enhancement to the HP Compliance Data Exchange that will enable manufacturers to accurately and efficiently report the presence of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries in their supply chains.

Mining code
Miners and government fail to agree on Congo mining code | 27 February 2014 | Mining Weekly | Reuters
Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has extended talks with mining companies by a week to try to overcome differences over proposed tax changes in a draft mining code, a business group said on Wednesday.

Other

UN – business – development collaboration 
UN, Businesses Collaborate on Long-Term Plan to Help Developing Nations | 24 February 2014 | VoA News
The United Nations has begun laying the groundwork for initiatives that will help improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people after its 15-year plan, called Millennium Development Goals, ends in 2015.

DRC

Police disperses Kamerhe rally in Bukavu
Kamerhe, nouvelle bête noire du régime | 20 February 2014 | Afrikarabia.com

Congo security forces scatter attempted rally by Kabila rival | 20 February 2014 | Reuters
Several wounded as Congolese police open fire on demo | 20 February 2014 | AFP | Reliefweb
Sud-Kivu : controverse sur le lieu de déroulement du meeting de Vital Kamerhe | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Bukavu : la police disperse un rassemblement de l’UNC, des blessés | 20 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
RDC: la police tire sur la foule entourant une figure de l’opposition, cinq blessés | 20 February 2014 | AFP | Reliefweb
RDC: la police disperse violemment les partisans de l’opposant Kamerhe | 20-21 February 2014 | RFI
Police opened fire Thursday on an opposition “caravan for peace” touring the Democratic Republic of Congo’s troubled east, wounding several people. The shooting erupted when several thousand demonstrators led by Vital Kamerhe, head of the opposition Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), arrived in the city of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.

Martin Kobler, MONUSCO Chief deplores last night’s violence in Bukavu, South-Kivu province | 21 February 2014 | MONUSCO
Martin Kobler déplore les violences qui ont entouré l’arrivée de Kamerhe à Bukavu | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
UN peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo meet with injured after political rally turns violent | 21 February 2014 | UN News Centre
RDC : l’envoyé de l’ONU déplore des incidents violents à Bukavu | 21 February 2014 | UN News Centre
RDC: 47 personnes blessées dans les heurts de jeudi à Bukavu (ONU) | 21 February 2014 | AFP | Reliefweb
The violent incidents broke out during a rally organized by “Union pour la Nation Congolaise (UNC)” yesterday at the Independence Square in Bukavu, South-Kivu province. Of the forty-seven persons injured as reported by health and police officials, MONUSCO has been able to visit twenty civilian and police victims and hear their testimonies.

Bukavu: 20 blessés après la dispersion du rassemblement de l’UNC, selon le gouverneur Chisambo | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Vingt personnes dont 8 policiers ont été blessées jeudi 20 février dans la débandade qui a suivi la dispersion, par la police, d’un rassemblement de l’Union pour la nation congolaise (UNC) de Vital Kamerhe à la place de l’Indépendance à Bukavu, chef-lieu du Sud-Kivu. C’est le bilan livré à Radio Okapi par le gouverneur de province, Marcellin Chisambo.

RDC : Vital Kamerhe déplore les incidents de Bukavu | 21 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
RDC: retour au calme à Bukavu | 21 February 2014 | RFI
« Hier, j’ai reçu des gaz lacrymogènes, c’était en pleine figure. J’ai vu mon assistant recevoir un coup de baïonnette. La dame qui était à côté a attrapé une balle ». C’est en ces termes que l’opposant Vital Kamerhe a déploré les incidents survenus jeudi 20 février à Bukavu.

Bukavu : la « caravane de la paix » tourne à l’affrontement | 22 February 2014 | Afrikarabia.com
La police congolaise a violemment dispersé le rassemblement organisé jeudi par Vital Kamerhe. 47 personnes ont été blessés et l’opposant dénonce même une « tentative d’assassinat ».

Sud-Kivu : la société civile exige l’ouverture d’une enquête après des incidents de Bukavu | 23 February 2014 | Radio Okapi

Burundi

Political crisis
Burundian Opposition Warns Cabinet Changes Risk Renewed Conflict | 21 February 2014 | Bloomberg
Burundian opposition leaders accused President Pierre Nkurunziza of undermining a peace accord that ended a 12-year civil war and warned that political unity between the country’s main ethnic groups is fracturing.

Nkurunziza nobbles opposition | 21 February 2014 | Africa Confidential
The appointment of a new Vice-President failed to relieve the political crisis and the President is now trying to manipulate opposition leaders. Burundi is facing its worst political crisis since the end of the civil war in 2000.

Uganda

Anti-homosexuality law signed
Uganda: Anti-Gay Bill – Museveni Responds to Obama | 21 February 2014 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
I have seen the statement H.E President Obama of the USA made in reaction to my statement that I was going to sign the anti-homosexual Bill, which I made at Kyankwanzi. Before I react to H.E. Obama’s statement, let me, again, put on record my views on the issue of homosexuals.

Uganda to consult scientists on homosexuality | 22 February 2014 | Al Jazeera
President to seek scientific advice on whether homosexuality is “genetic or behavioural” before signing anti-gay bill.

Desmond Tutu condemns Uganda’s proposed new anti-gay law | 23 February 2014 | The Guardian
Retired archbishop accuses president of breaking promise in reconsidering law extending penalties against homosexuality

Uganda’s President Signs Antigay Bill | 24 February 2014 | The New York Times
Brushing aside Western threats and outrage, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda significantly strengthened Africa’s antigay movement on Monday, signing into law a bill imposing harsh sentences for homosexual acts, including life imprisonment in some cases, according to government officials.

New anti-homosexuality law in Uganda violates basic human rights, stress UN officials | 24 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Ouganda : l’ONU dénonce la promulgation d’une loi visant les homosexuels | 24 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay have spoken out against the anti-homosexuality law signed into force today in Uganda, saying it violates basic human rights and endangers lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country.

Enactment of Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill | 24 February 2014 | US Department of State
This is a tragic day for Uganda and for all who care about the cause of human rights. Ultimately, the only answer is repeal of this law. The United States is deeply disappointed in the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda.

The Politics of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Legislation | 24 February 2014 | Chatham House
Analysis. Uganda’s President Museveni approved a new law that imposes life sentences for homosexuality in defiance of opposition from international donors, with whom he has in any case not enjoyed warm relations for some time.

Uganda: Law Rolls Back Basic Rights | 24 February 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s signing of the Anti-Homosexuality bill into law is a deeply worrying infringement on the human rights of all Ugandans.

Uganda: President Museveni Signs Anti-Homosexuality Bill | 24 February 2014 | Amnesty International
President Museveni has just signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law. It is a draconian and damaging piece of legislation, Amnesty International said today.

Anti-west and anti-gay: How Yoweri Museveni played to his audience | 24 February 2014 | CNN
State House Entebbe ebbed and flowed with dramatic contrasts: laughter at sexual jokes versus the pain of impending persecution and prosecution; Western freedoms clashing with African culture; an unwinnable battle between science and learned behavior; nature and nurture. Who decides?

Ban urges Uganda to repeal anti-homosexuality law | 25 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Ouganda : Ban souhaite que la loi contre l’homosexualité soit abolie | 25 February 2014 | UN News Centre
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged Ugandan authorities to revise or repeal the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, one day after he said it violates basic human rights and endangers lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country.

US Lawmakers Slam Ugandan Anti-Gay Law | 25 February 2014 | Voice of America
Uganda is reaping blistering international criticism and a loss of aid revenue after President Yoweri Museveni signed a law imposing harsh penalties for homosexuality.

Ugandan ‘homosexuals’ named in Red Pepper paper | 25 February 2014 | BBC Africa
Ugandan Newspaper Lists ‘Top Homosexuals’ | 25 February 2014 | Voice of America
Day After Uganda’s Antigay Law Is Signed, a Tabloid Publishes Names | 25 February 2014 | The New York Times blog
A Ugandan tabloid has named the country’s “200 top homosexuals”, a day after President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill toughening penalties for gay people.

How US evangelical missionaries wage war on gay people in Uganda – video | 25 February 2014 | The Guardian
In these extracts from director Roger Ross Williams’ documentary God Loves Uganda, undercover filming by a Boston-based Anglican priest, Kapya Kaoma, shows how anti-gay evangelical campaigners from the United States have been influential in the debate, pushing Uganda to pass measures that would be unthinkable in the US.

Inconsistency Killed the Cause: The West’s Outcry Over Uganda is Too Little Too Late | 25 February 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
The West has had years to criticise Museveni for rights abuses. The fact that condemnation is only coming now, and over gay rights, plays right into the wily old president’s hands.

Homosexualité en Ouganda : Museveni accentue la répression, avec la présidentielle en tête ? | 25 February 2014 | Jeune Afrique
L’Ouganda a encore durci sa loi réprimant l’homosexualité. Lundi, le président Yoweri Museveni a signé le texte prévoyant notamment la prison à vie pour les récidivistes ou encore la dénonciation obligatoire des homosexuels. Non sans arrière-pensées.

Uganda donors cut aid after president passes anti-gay law | 25 February 2014 | The Guardian
Norway and Denmark cut aid, while others including US review budgets over law imposing harsh penalties for homosexuality.

Uganda: how campaigners are preparing to counter the anti-gay bill | 25 February 2014 | The Guardian
LGBT campaigners and development agencies tell us what their next steps are after President Yoweri Museveni signs anti-homosexuality bill.

Uganda told anti-gay bill poses financial risk | 25 February 2014 | Reuters
Sweden’s Finance Minister Anders Borg warned Uganda on Tuesday that a new bill imposing harsh penalties for homosexuality could represent a financial risk for the east African economy.

Denmark, Norway Reduce Uganda Aid Over Anti-Gay Law | 26 February 2014 | Voice of America
Two European countries are reducing aid to the Ugandan government because of its new anti-homosexuality law.

Uganda Shilling Slides as Donors Cut Aid on Anti-Gay Law | 26 February 2014 | Bloomberg
Uganda’s shilling fell the most since August against the dollar as donors threatened to cut aid after President Yoweri Museveni signed a law that carries life sentences for homosexuality.

Kerry likens Uganda anti-gay law to anti-Semitism and apartheid | 26 February 2014 | Reuters
Kerry Compares Ugandan Anti-Gay Law to Nazism, Apartheid | 26 February 2014 | Voice of America
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday likened new anti-gay legislation in Uganda that imposes harsh penalties for homosexuality to anti-Semitic laws in Nazi Germany or apartheid South Africa.

The World Responds to Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law. Africa, Not So Much. | 26 February 2014 | allAfrica | Daily Maverick
Analysis. Condemnation of the harsh new measures from western leaders has been swift and categorical. From African leaders, on the other hand, there’s been an ominous silence.

Steve Mbikayi : «L’homosexualité est un danger contre les valeurs africaines» | 26 February 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le député national Steve Mbikayi, auteur d’une proposition de loi contre l’homosexualité en RDC, a rencontré mardi 25 février des étudiants de l’Université protestante au Congo (UPC), dans le cadre de sa campagne contre cette pratique. Pour l’élu de Kinshasa, l’homosexualité est un danger contre la pérennisation de l’espèce humaine ainsi que les valeurs africaines. Steve Mbikayi a notamment salué la promulgation par l’Ouganda d’une loi renforçant la pénalisation de l’homosexualité dans ce pays.

Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law Punished in Foreign-Exchange Market | 27 February 2014 | Bloomberg
The gains that had made Uganda’s shilling the second-best performing African currency this year are evaporating after President Yoweri Museveni imposed harsher penalties against homosexuals.

IPIS Recent Publications

Pinocchio Ltd. The NRA and its corporate partners: US shipments of small arms ammunition by sea | 25 March 2013 | TA-R | IPIS
The National Rifle Association (NRA) claims to have monitored in the last 20 years all United Nations activities that could impact Second Amendment rights. Its latest target is the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an international treaty to establish common international standards for the import, export, and transfer of conventional arms presently under discussion at the United Nations. The international community has been calling for the inclusion of ammunition and civilian arms within the scope of the ATT. This reasonable call is used by the NRA to claim that the ATT could restrict the lawful ownership of firearms in the United States.

Major Powers Fuelling Atrocities. Why the world needs a robust Arms Trade Treaty | March 2013 | Amnesty International
IPIS contributed to the research for this AI report.
Every year, thousands of people are killed, injured, raped and forced to flee from their homes as a result of abuses and atrocities committed with conventional arms and ammunition. Harrowing testimonies and images from conflict zones and human rights crises around the world underline the urgent need to end irresponsible arms transfers and illicit trafficking.

The Arms Trade Treaty: Building a Path to Disarmament | 19 March 2013 | Sergio Finardi, Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert, Ken Matthysen
The goal of this article is to examine and suggest proposals that could enhance the role of the international Arms Trade Treaty—presently in discussion at the United Nations—in the regulation of the international arms trade and in addressing the role of the legal trade in: a) providing the bulk of the arms used in armed conflicts, armed violence and human rights abuses; b) the excessive arming of developing countries; and c) the continuous unsettling of power balances in sensitive world regions, not least because of competition amongst arms-exporting countries.

Upstream Implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Final Report on one-year pilot implementation of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten | January 2013 | OECD – IPIS
This report is the final in a cycle of three reports on the pilot implementation by upstream companies of the “Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas”. The goal of the report is to provide an overall assessment of the progress and impact of the one-year pilot implementation phase of the OECD Guidance and its Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten. The pilot implementation phase of the Guidance focused on Africa’s Great Lakes region and was carried out during the period August 2011 – October 2012. Drawing on lessons from the ground, this final report identifies key trends and common approaches to overcome challenges as well as tools used by companies to implement the OECD Guidance.

Exploitation minière industrielle et artisanale au Sud-Kivu. Possibilités d’une cohabitation pacifique ? | December 2012 | Gabriel Kamundala Byemba
Le secteur minier en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) en général et au Sud-Kivu en particulier alimente toujours les débats tant au niveau international qu’au niveau national. Présenté sous plusieurs facettes, ce secteur au Sud-Kivu a été dans le temps industriel, puis artisanal et aujourd’hui il est en même temps artisanal et industriel. Le retour en force, ces dernières années, des sociétés industrielles dans le paysage minier du Sud-Kivu coïncide avec l’accélération des dynamiques minières, grâce aux opportunités qu’offre la RDC en matière d’investissements privés et aux réformes amorcées du cadre législatif et réglementaire du secteur minier congolais. Ces réformes ont abouti à la mise en place du nouveau Code minier en 2002 et du Règlement minier en 2003.

Cartographie des motivations derrière les conflits : le M23 | November 2012 | IPIS
À la lumière de la récente occupation de Goma par le M23 et eu égard à la recrudescence du risque de conflit armé à grande échelle en RDC, IPIS publie une brève mise à jour de sa série de rapports « Cartographie des motivations derrière les conflits » (2007-2010), en se focalisant spécifiquement sur les intentions du M23.
Ces rebelles affichent clairement une ambition politique et s’orientent vers l’instauration d’un contrôle politique sur le territoire, en contestant l’autorité de Kinshasa – intérêts stratégiques qu’ils pourraient partager avec le Rwanda.

Mapping Conflict Motives: M23 | November 2012 | IPIS
In light of the recent occupation of Goma by M23 and the renewed risk of large-scale armed conflict in the DRC, IPIS publishes an update to its 2007-2010 ‘mapping conflict motives’ report series focusing specifically on the intentions of M23.
The M23 rebels show a clear political ambition and a tendency to establish political control over territory and challenge Kinshasa’s authority – strategic interests they might share with Rwanda.

A Code of Conduct for Arms Transport by Air. Transport Services under an Arms Trade Treaty Series | August 2012 | IPIS
This report is a discussion of some key considerations for the development of a Cargo Industry Voluntary Code of Conduct relating to the transport of arms, ammunition and other military equipment (ACI Code). The purpose of such a Code is to encourage as many aviation companies and other actors as possible in the air cargo industry to adhere to existing and new standards relating to the transport of arms, ammunition and other military equipment.

Rough Seas. Maritime Transport and Arms Shipments | July 2012 | IPIS
As stated by the authors in their report “Transparency and Accountability” (February 2012), the Chairman’s Draft Paper (14 July 2011) presented by the Arms Trade Treaty’s Preparatory Committee (ATT PrepCom), included within the ATT’s scope certain “services”, such as transport and brokering. However, no provision has been envisaged for the monitoring or ATT-related regulation of arms transport services. Monitoring transport services may be key to implementing and enforcing the Arms Trade Treaty. This report will demonstrate how arms shipments may be monitored and reported where there is a substantial risk that the shipments could contribute to fuelling conflict, repressive state practices, and other human rights abuses. The report provides examples of the monitoring of actual conventional arms shipments to Egypt and Syria in 2011 and 2012, and of suspected conventional arms shipments to Syria in 2012.  It also shows that where there is an open society, or at least a fair degree of access to government activities, arms transfers can be monitored and discussed without jeopardizing legitimate security policies.

Upstream Implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Cycle 2 Interim Progress Report on the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten | May 2012 | OECD – IPIS
The following report is the second in a cycle of three on upstream companies’ implementation of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten to the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. The objective is to report on progress made by upstream companies in their implementation of due diligence, with a focus on current practices and experiences in developing systems and processes for the implementation of the Five-Step OECD Framework.

Etat des lieux du développement socio-économique dans les zones minières au Nord-Kivu (territoires de Walikale et Masisi) | March 2012 | ASSODIP | IPIS (editorial advice)
At a moment when the attention of both the national and international communities is focused on the reorganisation of the mining sector in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the local civil society organisation ASSODIP considered it opportune to carry out a study of the impact of mining exploitation on the socio-economic development in North Kivu’s Walikale and Masisi territories. These territories are among the richest in mineral resources of eastern DRC, with the exploitation and trade in minerals adding greatly to public revenues. Nonetheless, the concrete situations as presented in this paper sufficiently show that the development of the local mining communities has never been taken into due account.

Assessment of existing practices regarding end-user certification | February 2012 | UNODA | IPIS
Already, in 2002, the Security Council called upon States to establish an effective national end-user certificate system and to study the feasibility, as appropriate, of developing such a system at the regional and global levels, as well as information exchange and verification mechanisms. This study assesses existing practices regarding end-user certification in a wide range of countries. It examines concepts, documents and procedures relating to the regulation of end use and end users of conventional arms. It also endeavours to identify political and practical obstacles to the development of an international framework for authentication, reconciliation and standardization of end-user certificates. Finally, it proposes practical guidelines to assist States in the development of a reliable system of end-user certification.

Transparancy and Accountability. Monitoring and Reporting Methods Under An Arms Trade Treaty | February 2012 | TransArms R | IPIS
Without an understanding of the existing practices of States regarding their commonly agreed standards for the monitoring and reporting of their international transfers of conventional arms, it will be very difficult to draft many of the basic provisions of the Treaty to ensure compliance and enforcement. This report therefore seeks to clarify and discuss existing terminology and reporting practices for State regulation of international transfers of goods and services and for international transfers of conventional arms. It is hoped that this will also help contribute to the development of common international standards for monitoring and reporting international transfers of conventional arms. Standardization of statistical requirements and reporting methods is of paramount importance for the ATT to be effective.

Upstream Pilot Implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas  Baseline Report on the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten | November 2011 | OECD | IPIS
IPIS executed the research for and writing of this OECD report. The present baseline report is the first in a cycle of three reports on the implementation by upstream companies of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (hereafter “the Guidance”). The objective of this report is to understand where upstream companies currently stand with the implementation of due diligence.

Violence against women in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Whose responsibility? Whose complicity? | November 2011 | ITUC | IPIS
IPIS contributed the research for and writing of this ITUC report. Summary: Eastern DRC has been ravaged by war and violence since the mid-1990s. Civilians carry the greatest burden of the conflict. Women and girls are especially vulnerable to such attacks.. Hundreds of women and girls get sexually violated in their homes and at their workplace. Fuelled and motivated by Congo’s minerals, rebel and army forces are inclined to maintain an insecure environment that ensures the continuation of the status quo. Congo’s conflict minerals go through a convoluted, yet manageable and traceable, supply chain and end up in industrialised consumer products. The introduction of transparency and governance into the mining sector is advancing, but still much has to be done.

Bisie. A one-year snapshot of the DRC’s principal cassiterite mine | November 2011 | IPIS
Much has happened in the mining sector of Eastern DRC over the last year. President Kabila imposed a ban on all mining activities last fall, during which production fell considerably. As soon as the suspension was lifted in the spring of this year, the major global electronic companies stopped buying minerals from the region, provoking a de facto embargo on Congo’s minerals with detrimental effects on the sector. At the same time, the Congolese government has taken major steps to restructure its army in the east of the country. These different decisions in the mining and security sectors have affected the nature and volume of minerals production and export and have reconfigured the security situation in the region. The consequences of these actions are discussed and illustrated with the use of the most important and well-known cassiterite mine in North Kivu called Bisie.

“Véhicules civils militarisables” and the EU arms embargo on Sudan | September 2011 | IPIS | TA-R | ASER
In this case study we will focus on the use of European manufactured trucks in the Darfur region, and more specifically what the defence industry calls “véhicules civils militarisables” – commercial vehicles that can be militarized. All armed actors in the conflict require vehicles to transport combatants through the vast Darfur deserts. Japanese Toyota (Landcruisers) pick-up trucks are the most common vehicles that are spotted in the region. Usually they are mounted with machineguns, and as such compose an important assault instrument. Furthermore, a wide array of military trucks or civilian trucks modified for military purposes are being used in Darfur, e.g. anti-aircraft guns are mounted on a variety of trucks to function as support and/or attack vehicles. Some of these trucks are European models, assembled by a local company: GIAD Automotive Industry Company.

Conflict motives in Kenya’s North Rift region | September 2011 | IPIS intern series
Kenya’s North Rift Region continues to suffer from violent conflict in which a series of actors are involved. Armed groups perform widespread and devastating raids against neighbouring communities. The strength of these warrior groups varies regionally and from case to case. Security operations are often characterised by their disproportionate brutality. Power figures are known to instigate violence or organise and finance armed militias. Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia bore the brunt of the post-election violence in 2007 and 2008. The violence mainly pitted Kalenjin warrior groups against Kikuyu communities in a struggle over political injustices and power but also over economic discrepancies and feelings of ethnic antagonism.

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