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NEWS IN BRIEFIn the joint FARDC-UN military operation against the ADF/Nalu rebel group in Beni, North Kivu, for the first time UN helicopters were deployed to bombard the alleged last rebel stronghold. Close to Beni town, a UN vehicle was attacked with grenades, leaving five peacekeepers wounded. Further south, clashes continued between the APCLS militia and the army in Masisi. The FARDC were accused of violence against civilians during the above operations, and of harassment in Lubero, North Kivu, and Watsa, Province Orientale. In Ituri, 20 soldiers reportedly involved in shooting incidents with other soldiers in Mambasa and Epulu, were arrested. In Moba, Katanga, the army recovered several villages that had been occupied by Mai-Mai rebels for over a year. This Friday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) will deliver its judgment in the case against Ituri warlord Germain Katanga. While violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) diminished in the past week, the UN and aid groups called for increased humanitarian support to the conflict-affected population in the country and to the thousands of refugees in neighbouring Cameroon and Chad. In a report to the UN Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended sending a peacekeeping force of nearly 12,000 to protect civilians and restore stability. The European Commission proposed a law that offers European companies a voluntary self-certification scheme to prove they don’t use or trade ‘conflict minerals’. The draft regulation received criticism from civil society and others who strive for a legally binding obligation for all companies to undertake supply chain due diligence, as was recommended by the European Parliament. Meanwhile in the DRC, several mining sites in Masisi, North Kivu, that were recently certified as conflict-free by the Government, were included in the iTSCi traceability system. In a January letter seen by Bloomberg News, the Congolese Prime Minister told mining companies operating in Katanga to postpone all expansion projects requiring supplemental energy, amid a power shortage that will take years to resolve. In an unusual step, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim delayed a $90 million loan to Uganda over the country’s anti-gay law and criticised countries for legalising discrimination against minority groups. |
IPIS’ Latest PublicationsIPIS Insights: Pentagon Accidentally Arms Al Qaeda Affiliate | 20 February 2014 | IPIS Mapping Conflict Motives: the Sudan – South Sudan border (2012-2013) | 5 February 2014 | IPIS Boundary spanning: moving towards strategic stakeholder engagement | 3 February 2014 | IPIS IPIS Insights: The 2nd Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, Geneva 2013 | January 2014 | IPIS Practice What You Preach: Theory and Practice of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan in Chad | 9 January 2014 | IPIS 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 In search of clean water: human rights and the mining industry in Katanga, DRC | 27 November 2013 | IPIS IPIS Insights: Kimberley Process: observations from the sidelines. Part I | 21 November 2013 | IPIS 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 Ambushed in Bangkok? The U.N. Panel on North Korea and the case of the IL-76 “4L-AWA” | 14 November 2013 | IPIS/TA Analysis of the interactive map of artisanal mining areas in Eastern DR Congo | 12 November 2013 | IPIS ‘Conflict Minerals’ initiatives in DR Congo: Perceptions of local mining communities | 12 November 2013 | IPIS 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) Strijd tegen conflictmineralen: sleutel tot conflictresolutie in Oost-Congo? | 25 July 2013 | IPIS (Internationale Spectator) 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 formalisation of artisanal mining in the DRC and Rwanda | December 2012 [April 2013] | IPIS Gold and diamonds in the Central African Republic. The country’s mining sector, and related social, economic and environmental issues | 26 March 2013 | IPIS |
Conflict and securityRecent news on conflict, security and arms trade across the Great Lakes Region DRCMONUSCO weekly press conference Clashes and violence against civilians in Masisi, North Kivu Nord-Kivu: les militaires accusés de torturer les jeunes de Nyabiondo | 4 March 2014 | Radio Okapi FARDC hunting down APCLS in Masisi, and what about FDLR? | 4 March 2014 | ChristophVogel.net Nord-Kivu: les FARDC délogent les APCLS de 6 localités à Masisi | 5 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Nord-Kivu: plaidoyer pour un déploiement des policiers et militaires à Nyabamoko (sic) | 5 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Operation against ADF/Nalu, Beni, North Kivu Les FARDC appellent les ADF à déposer les armes, avant «l’assaut final» | 28 February 2014 | Radio Okapi Nord-Kivu : la Monusco bombarde le dernier bastion des ADF à Saha Sitisa | 1 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Nord-Kivu: des tirs d’obus font 3 blessés à Beni | 3 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Nord-Kivu: 6 casques bleus de la Monusco blessés dans l’attaque de leur convoi à Beni | 3 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Beni : 500 USD pour celui qui livrera les informations sur les lanceurs des grenades | 5 March 2014 | Radio Okapi FDLR and FARDC harassment in Lubero, North Kivu Lubero: des militaires accusés d’extorsion sur les routes de desserte agricole | 5 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Militia lays down arms in Uvira, South Kivu Soldiers arrested in Ituri, Province Orientale FARDC harassment in Watsa, Province Orientale Clashes between FARDC and militia in Wamba, Province Orientale FARDC chase Mai-Mai in Moba, Katanga Katanga : les FARDC récupèrent 5 groupements qu’occupaient les Maï-Maï à Moba | 28 February 2014 | Radio Okapi DDR Nord-Kivu : des ex-miliciens réticents pour intégrer l’armée | 28 February 2014 | Radio Okapi Mbandaka: 51 jeunes démobilisés exigent de retourner dans leurs milieux d’origine | 2 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Nord-Kivu: 1 500 ex-miliciens envoyés à Kitona et Kamina | 4 March 2014 | Radio Okapi Briefing: DDR in eastern DRC – try, try again | 4 March 2014 | IRIN Amnesty law Les anciens rebelles ne pourront bénéficier de la loi d’amnistie qu’à la faveur d’un sévère tamis sélectif effectué au cas par cas | 4 March 2014 | Digitalcongo.net Sud-Kivu: la société civile réclame une commission pour l’application de l’amnistie | 4 March 2014 | Radio Okapi François Muamba: l’amnistie sera individuelle. Point | 5 March 2014 | Le carnet de Colette Braeckman Background, analysis, comments Thoughts on MONUSCO’s upcoming mandate renewal | 4 March 2014 | ChristophVogel.net FARDC hunting down APCLS in Masisi, and what about FDLR? | 4 March 2014 | ChristophVogel.net RDC: baisse des cas de violations des droits de l’homme en janvier | 5 March 2014 | Radio Okapi RwandaEast Africa willing to send stabilisation force to South Sudan Residence of former chief of staff attacked in South Africa Afrique du Sud: Kayumba Nyamwasa accuse le Rwanda | 6 March 2014 | RFI BurundiFNL attack against military East Africa willing to send stabilisation force to South Sudan UgandaExtra troops to Somalia Central African RepublicAnti-balaka leader not arrested Centrafrique : Ngaïssona, l’homme qui se voulait “roi” des anti-balaka | 4 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique France – President Hollande in Bangui Little hope for C.Africa Muslims ahead of French president visit | 27 February 2014 | Africa Daily | AFP François Hollande à Bangui | 28 February 2014 | RFI France striving to stop Central African Republic split, Hollande says | 28 February 2014 | Reuters Centrafrique : retranchés au PK-5, les musulmans disent “NON” à Hollande | 28 February 2014 | Afrik.com Hollande: France Will Help Fund CAR Government | 28 February 2014 | Voice of America French troops in CAR to move outside Bangui, Hollande | 1 March 2014 | RFI English Three ex-Seleka rebels killed in Bangui UN – Ban Ki-moon proposes 12,000-strong peacekeeping force U.N. proposes Central African Republic peacekeeping force | 3 March 2014 | Reuters U.N. Debates the Breadth of a Mission in the Central African Republic | 3 March 2014 | The New York Times Political Wrangling Stymies CAR Peacekeeping Force | 3 March 2014 | IPS Centrafrique : les Casques bleus de l’ONU ne seront pas déployés avant septembre | 5 March 2014 | Afrik.com Background, analysis, comments, appeals Aid Agencies Face Moral Dilemma in CAR | 28 February 2014 | Voice of America CAR: Urgent action needed by the UN Security Council to address crisis | 28 February 2014 | Amnesty International An Equal Share of Wealth Equals Lasting Peace in CAR | 28 February 2014 | IPS Centrafrique : Instabilité et recrudescence des violences | 28 February 2014 | Afrik.com Four steps the UK should take to stop the CAR from turning into another Rwanda | 28 February 2014 | The Independent Le pays respire mieux | 3 March 2014 | allAfrica | Cameroon Tribune Analysis – UN Force Is Last Roll of the Dice for Desperate CAR | 4 March 2014 | allAfrica | Daily Maverick Central African Republic: Ignore Kony at Your Peril | 4 March 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress Cameroun – Centrafrique : voisinage à risques | 4 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique Séraphin Ngwej : “La RDC est le pays qui fait le plus en Centrafrique” | 5 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique |
Humanitarian newsNon-comprehensive overview of humanitarian news & events, including refugee and IDP issues DRCWB to Help Conflict-Affected Communities in Eastern DRC Find Livelihoods, Rebuild Infrastructure | 27 February 2014 | allAfrica | World Bank Rutshuru : retour progressif des Congolais réfugiés en Ouganda | 27 February 2014 | Radio Okapi RDC: le plan d’actions humanitaire 2014 présenté à Uvira | 27 February 2014 | Radio Okapi Wamba: 10 villages désertés suite aux combats entre FARDC et miliciens | 27 February 2014 | Radio Okapi Poverty amid mining riches in Katanga | 27 February 2014 | IRIN DR Congo: funding gap forces UN agency to scale back food rations | 28 February 2014 | UN News Centre Everyday Emergency: Silent Suffering in Democratic Republic of Congo | 3 March 2014 | Reliefweb | MSF Le PAM fournit une assistance alimentaire vitale aux victimes de conflits armés dans le territoire de Beni, à l’est de la RDC | 4 March 2014 | Reliefweb | WFP Katanga : bientôt de la nourriture pour 40 000 déplacés de Pweto | 4 March 2014 | Radio Okapi UNOCHA bulletins & infographic Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province Orientale N° 7/14, 26 février 2014 | 27 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu N° 08/14, 26 février 2014 | 28 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu N° 09/14, 4 mars 2014 | 5 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province Orientale N° 08/14, 5 mars 2014 | 5 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA Rwanda‘Only Peace Will Stop Refugee Influx’ | 27 February 2014 | allAfrica | Rwanda Focus UNHCR welcomes the decision on 37 protracted Rwandan refugees | 28 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR UgandaUganda Emergency Update Covering the southwest, midwest and northwest, 18 – 24 February 2014 | 3 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR Refugees by the thousands search for safety in Uganda | 5 March 2014 | Reliefweb | IFRC Central African RepublicCentral African Republic: Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (as of 26 Feb 2014) | 27 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA Central African Republic Situation External Regional Update #4 – 20-26 February 2014 | 28 February 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR UN: CAR Civilians Need Increased Protection | 28 February 2014 | Voice of America CAR Refugees in Need of Emergency Food Aid | 28 February 2014 | allAfrica | MSF Réfugiés centrafricains au Cameroun – des conditions de vie déplorables | 28 February 2014 | allAfrica | MSF Central African Republic Situation Report #34 | 28 February 2014 | Reliefweb | WFP Aid Agencies Face Moral Dilemma in CAR | 28 February 2014 | Voice of America Volunteering for the Red Cross in the Central African Republic – Why It Is Not for the Faint of Heart | 2 March 2014 | allAfrica | IFRC UN increasingly concerned for people fleeing Central African Republic, South Sudan | 4 March 2014 | UN News Centre Rains bring further misery for Central Africa’s displaced | 4 March 2014 | Reuters Over 76,000 People Displaced From Central African Republic Into Chad Facing Crisis | 4 March 2014 | allAfrica | UNICEF Food Distribution Increases in CAR | 4 March 2014 | Voice of America Chad/CAR: New humanitarian crisis for those fleeing violence in CAR | 5 March 2014 | Amnesty International CAR Races to Save Planting Season | 5 March 2014 | Voice of America |
Justice and TribunalsSelected articles on criminal justice proceedings regarding crimes committed in the Great Lakes Region DRCICC and the DRC ICC – Germain Katanga case ICC – Bosco Ntaganda case Mai-Mai Morgan on trial in Mambasa, Ituri, Province Orientale RwandaSimbikangwa genocide trial in Paris Procès Simbikangwa: un témoin encombrant pour l’accusé | 28 February 2014 | RFI Procès Simbikangwa: un second témoin gênant pour l’accusé | 4 March 2014 | RFI Procès de Pascal Simbikangwa : le témoignage d’un Tutsi fragilise sa défense | 4 March 2014 | RFI Procès du génocide rwandais en France : Pascal Simbikangwa entre ombre et lumière | 4 March 2014 | Afrik.com Hearing of genocide suspects in UK |
Natural resource exploitation, governance and tradeMinerals, energy (oil & gas, hydro and solar), poaching, logging, foreign investment, trade, environmental issues Extractive industries Central Africa’s Extractive Industry Must Create Jobs and Wealth – Chadian Minister | 3 March 2014 | allAfrica | UN Economic Commission for Africa Ending the Resource Curse | 1 March 2014 | allAfrica | Africa in Fact Facets of Value | 1 March 2014 | allAfrica | Africa in Fact Illegal logging DRCDraft EU law on conflict minerals meets with criticism EU drafts conflict minerals law, with opt-in clause | 4 March 2014 | EurActiv Re: The EU Proposal on Conflict Minerals Due Diligence | 4 March 2014 | Shift European Commission: Make Reporting on Conflict Minerals Mandatory | 4 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch Proposed EU law will not keep conflict resources out of Europe, campaigners warn | 5 March 2014 | Global Witness Proposed EU regulation on conflict minerals: commentaries & media coverage | 5 March 2014 | Business & Human Rights Resource Centre US lawsuit against SEC conflict minerals rule iTSCi minerals traceability system launched in Rubaya area, Masisi, North Kivu Sexual exploitation of girls in mines of Banalia, Province Orientale Resource curse in Katanga Who profits from copper? Good and bad news for mining projects Congo Halts Mining Expansion Projects Amid Electricity Shortage | 5 March 2014 | Bloomberg Gecamines Kinshasa | 4 March 2014 | Africa Mining Intelligence La Gécamines peine à réunir les 2,5 milliards USD nécessaires à sa relance | 5 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel Ivanhoe Mines Hydropower – Inga World Bank Statement on the Inga-3 Hydropower Development Project Appraisal Document | 5 March 2014 | World Bank Électricité – Le projet Inga III suscite toujours l’intérêt des partenaires | 5 March 2014 | allAfrica | Les dépêches de Brazzaville Logging Greenpeace Afrique demande à la Rdc d’appliquer les recommandations de REM | 4 March 2014 | Digitalcongo.net Oil exploration and farming in Virunga National Park L’ICCN détruit les cultures “illégales” dans le parc des Virunga à Kibirizi | 3 March 2014 | Radio Okapi RwandaHydropower BurundiMining governance criticized Nickel UgandaOil Northern Uganda Emerges From Kony Threat to Attract Oil Projects | 4 March 2014 | Bloomberg Can NEMA Bite Oil Companies? | 4 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Observer (Kampala) Hydropower Omnicane et Mécamidi vont construire 15 centrales hydroélectriques en Afrique de l’Est | 4 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique Solar power Uganda Finalizes Solar Framework | 3 March 2014 | allAfrica | East African Business Week Poaching |
Regulation, voluntary initiatives, and CSRSelected articles on legal and voluntary initiatives relating to natural resources and good governance Transparency for Canadian extractive companies DRCDraft EU law on conflict minerals meets with criticism EU drafts conflict minerals law, with opt-in clause | 4 March 2014 | EurActiv Re: The EU Proposal on Conflict Minerals Due Diligence | 4 March 2014 | Shift European Commission: Make Reporting on Conflict Minerals Mandatory | 4 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch Proposed EU law will not keep conflict resources out of Europe, campaigners warn | 5 March 2014 | Global Witness Proposed EU regulation on conflict minerals: commentaries & media coverage | 5 March 2014 | Business & Human Rights Resource Centre US lawsuit against SEC conflict minerals rule iTSCi minerals traceability system launched in Rubaya area, Masisi, North Kivu UgandaOil waste |
OtherRwandaGenocide commemoration Coalition of opposition parties in exile BurundiPolitical crisis Burundi Risks Suspension From EAC | 1 March 2014 | allAfrica | Tanzania Daily News Burundi: pour le président de l’Uprona, le pouvoir cherche à diviser les partis politiques | 4 March 2014 | RFI Burundi: pas d’accalmie dans la crise qui oppose le pouvoir à l’Uprona | 5 March 2014 | RFI UgandaInternational reactions against anti-homosexuality law Discrimination by law carries a high price | 28 February 2014 | The Washington Post 18 Ambassadors Condemn Anti-Homosexuality Law | 28 February 2014 | allAfrica | The Observer (Kampala) Uganda: Scientific statement from the Ministry of Health on homosexuality | 28 February 2014 | Pambazuka News Lois anti-homosexualité : la Banque mondiale inquiète pour ses employés | 1 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique | AFP Antigay Laws Gain Global Attention; Countering Them Remains Challenge | 1 March 2014 | The New York Times Uganda’s anti-gay law. Deadly intolerance | 1 March 2014 | The Economist Uganda Gets No Aid in Fight Against Gays | 2 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Observer (Kampala) Homosexualité : l’Église anglicane ougandaise menace de se séparer de l’Église mère anglaise | 2 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique Uganda anti-gay bill author says aid cuts small price to pay | 3 March 2014 | Reuters Uganda’s anti-gay bill outs the country as anti-human rights | 3 March 2014 | The Guardian Le fatwa de Kampala | 3 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique Gay Africa: casualty of a different power struggle – By Richard Dowden | 4 March 2014 | African Arguments After Uganda, Kenya Gears Up for Gay Rights Debate | 5 March 2014 | Voice of America |
IPIS Recent PublicationsPinocchio Ltd. The NRA and its corporate partners: US shipments of small arms ammunition by sea | 25 March 2013 | TA-R | IPIS Major Powers Fuelling Atrocities. Why the world needs a robust Arms Trade Treaty | March 2013 | Amnesty International The Arms Trade Treaty: Building a Path to Disarmament | 19 March 2013 | Sergio Finardi, Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert, Ken Matthysen 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 Exploitation minière industrielle et artisanale au Sud-Kivu. Possibilités d’une cohabitation pacifique ? | December 2012 | Gabriel Kamundala Byemba Cartographie des motivations derrière les conflits : le M23 | November 2012 | IPIS Mapping Conflict Motives: M23 | November 2012 | IPIS A Code of Conduct for Arms Transport by Air. Transport Services under an Arms Trade Treaty Series | August 2012 | IPIS Rough Seas. Maritime Transport and Arms Shipments | July 2012 | IPIS 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 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) Assessment of existing practices regarding end-user certification | February 2012 | UNODA | IPIS Transparancy and Accountability. Monitoring and Reporting Methods Under An Arms Trade Treaty | February 2012 | TransArms R | IPIS 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 Violence against women in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Whose responsibility? Whose complicity? | November 2011 | ITUC | IPIS Bisie. A one-year snapshot of the DRC’s principal cassiterite mine | November 2011 | IPIS “Véhicules civils militarisables” and the EU arms embargo on Sudan | September 2011 | IPIS | TA-R | ASER Conflict motives in Kenya’s North Rift region | September 2011 | IPIS intern series To see the sources of IPIS’ briefings, please click here. |