NEWS IN BRIEF

IPIS’ Latest Publications

Mapping Conflict Motives: the Central African Republic | November 2014 | IPIS
In this study, IPIS analyses the conflict dynamics in the Central African Republic (CAR) since the outbreak of the latest crisis in September 2012 up to September 2014. The analysis specifically looks into the motivations and interests of the main conflict parties, Seleka and anti-balaka, and the influence and interests of neighbouring countries. The report covers the following key questions. What is the background of the conflict parties Seleka and anti-balaka, and how are they structured? Which strategic interests do they prioritise, or ignore? What do they want to achieve? Do their actions correspond to their rhetoric? What has been Chad’s, Sudan’s and Cameroon’s influence on the CAR conflict, and what have been their interests in it? Together with the report, a web map of the area of focus has been published and is available at www.ipisresearch.be/mapping/webmapping/car. The web map presents various layers, which can be toggled on or off, including information on security incidents, areas under control of armed groups, natural resources, and a number of other features. The map is an integrated part of the research methodology and has been a crucial source for IPIS’ analysis. Also have a look at the Infographic, at https://infogr.am/mapping-conflict-motives-in-car. La traduction en français sera disponible prochainement.

The Adverse Human Rights Risks and Impacts of European Companies: Getting a glimpse of the picture | October 2014 | IPIS
This report presents the findings of a study undertaken by IPIS and commissioned by the European Coalition for Corporate Justice on the extent to which European companies are identified in concerns about adverse human rights risks and impacts. Gathering concerns raised regarding the human rights risks and impacts of companies listed on the UK’s FTSE 100, France’s CAC 40 and the German DAX 30, the study finds that around half of these companies have been identified in allegations or concerns regarding adverse human rights risks and impacts reported on between 2005 and early 2013. Many of these risks and impacts relate to operations outside the European Union, with the most severe often alleged to occur in countries in which rule of law and institutions are weak.

The Adverse Human Rights Risks and Impacts of European Companies: Getting a glimpse of the picture. Annexes | October 2014 | IPIS
This Annex accompanies the report that presents the findings of a study undertaken by IPIS and commissioned by the European Coalition for Corporate Justice on the extent to which European companies are identified in concerns about adverse human rights risks and impacts.

Mapping Conflict Minerals: Eastern DRC (2013-2014) | 31 October 2014 | IPIS
In collaboration with the Congolese mining cadastre (CAMI), mining service SAESSCAM and representatives from local civil society organisations, IPIS organised a series of field visits to monitor artisanal mining activities and the involvement of armed groups and criminal networks in mineral exploitation and trade. This resulted in the publication of an interactive web map providing information on e.g. the on-site presence of armed groups and criminal elements within the Congolese army (FARDC) and their activities, as well as indicators of the relative importance of the mining site. It shows the location of 150 trading centres and nearly 1100 mining sites in Eastern DRC. An accompanying report provides an analysis of the data collected by the local teams between March 2013 and March 2014 as presented by IPIS on its web map. It analyses the most striking findings, focussing on developments surrounding security and how they have impacted on Eastern DRC’s artisanal mining sector. Finally, the report also explains how the map can be used to assess risks in mineral supply chains.

Supply Chains and Transport Corridors in East Africa ❘ June 2014 ❘ IPIS and TransArms-Research
Transport infrastructure plays a key role in boosting a country or region’s economic development. IPIS and TransArms have ascertained on several occasions that the underdevelopment or degeneration of transport infrastructure is a problematic issue across a number of African countries and regions. This report analyses the current logistics situation in Eastern Africa, and the logistic challenges faced by various actors in that region. It is based on desktop research, and interviews and data collected by the authors during several field missions to East and Central Africa. At the time of writing, however, logistic and other challenges to cost-efficient trade and overall economic development are yet to be addressed. Further research and policy actions to effectively tackle current shortcomings are much needed. A strategy relying on a piecemeal approach (e.g. on ad hoc investments in infrastructure) is likely to result in a ‘quick fix’ to ship raw materials out of the African continent rather than in an effort to boost sustainable economic development.

De Belgische ontwikkelingssamenwerking en fragiele staten: een kloof tussen beleid en praktijk? ❘ May 2014 ❘ 11.11.11 i.s.m. IPIS
Zo goed als de helft van de Belgische middelen voor ontwikkelingshulp gaat naar partnerlanden waar de overheid niet de capaciteit, wil en/of legitimiteit heeft om de publieke zaken efficiënt te beheren, voor veiligheid te zorgen en om de bevolking uit de armoede te halen. Omdat traditionele hulprecepten in deze ‘fragiele staten’ op hun limieten stuiten, is er de laatste decennia een internationaal beleid ontwikkeld dat een blauwdruk voorstelt voor een gedifferentieerde aanpak om deze landen te ondersteunen in het traject richting meer weerbaarheid. De Belgische ontwikkelingssamenwerking onderschrijft de internationale engagementen over fragiele staten die hieruit ontstonden, zoals de fragiele staten principes (FSP’s) en de New Deal. In 2013 werd er een Belgische strategienota voor fragiele situaties goedgekeurd. Positief is dat België zich, ondanks de moeilijke context, rond dit thema blijft engageren – zowel op internationaal beleidsniveau als binnen haar eigen ontwikkelingsbeleid.

Conflict and security

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

Lord’s Resistance Army

Security Council condemns actions of LRA in Central Africa, demands end to all attacks | 10 December 2014 | UN News
The Security Council today expressed its concern at the grave security situation in parts of Central Africa, particularly the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) and its regional impact, the continuing threat of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and the expansion of Boko Haram terrorist activities into countries in the sub-region.

DRC

M23 repatriation

Information Minister: DRC Dispatches Delegation to Aid M23 Repatriation | 4 December 2014 | Voice of America
DRC to Start Repatriating Ex-M23 Rebels | 4 December 2014 | Voice of America | Reuters
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Information minister says the administration has dispatched two delegations led by cabinet ministers to Uganda and Rwanda to help repatriate about 1,500 former members of the M23 rebel group.

L’Ouganda veut accorder un statut de réfugié politique aux ex-M23 | 5 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le président ougandais, Yoweri Museveni, a annoncé qu’il accorderait le statut des réfugiés politiques à tous les ex-rebelles M23 qui se trouvent sur son territoire. Cette décision entrerait en application à partir du 12 décembre prochain, date marquant l’an 1 de la signature des déclarations de Nairobi.

Ouganda: Le M23 au centre d’un tiraillement entre la RDC et l’Ouganda | 6 December 2014 | allAfrica | Les Dépêches de Brazzaville
Congo-Kinshasa: Le M23 dénonce l’«imposture du gouvernement congolais» | 7 December 2014 | allAfrica | RFI
Le gouvernement de Kinshasa a envoyé une délégation à Kampala ce vendredi, pour organiser le rapatriement des éléments du M23, car le gouvernement ougandais avait donné jusqu’au 12 décembre à la RDC pour les rapatrier. Mais pour le M23, le gouvernement congolais a « faussé l’interprétation et l’esprit des déclarations de Nairobi. »

MONUSCO review

Bilan controversé des 15 ans de la Monusco en RDC | 6 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Après 15 ans de présence sur le sol congolais, le bilan de la Mission onusienne reste mitigé. Au cours d’une matinée de réflexion organisée vendredi 5 décembre à Kinshasa sur le bilan et les perspectives de cette organisation, des participants ont regretté que des résolutions votées par le conseil de sécurité de l’Onu ne soient pas respectées. D’autres par contre louent les efforts fournis par la Monusco.

Operation Likofi sanctions

Les ambiguïtés de l’aide européenne à la police congolaise | 6 December 2014 | Afrik Arabia
L’Union européenne (UE) et la France ont annoncé la maintient de leur aide à la réforme de police en pleine polémique sur les bavures de l’opération « Likofi ». Pour Clément Boursin de l’ACAT, « un gel de la coopération » aurait été préférable.

Human rights

Droits de l’homme en RDC: beaucoup d’efforts ont été fournis, selon le BCNUDH | 10 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
A l’occasion de la journée internationale des droits de l’homme ce mercredi 10 décembre, le Bureau conjoint des Nations unies aux droits de l’homme (BCNUDH) estime que beaucoup d’efforts ont été fournis pour l’amélioration des droits de l’homme en RDC depuis début 2014.

North Kivu: Beni massacres

Democratic Republic of the Congo: RDC: 5 morts dans de violents affrontements entre l’armée et des rebelles ougandais (armée) | 4 December 2014 | Reliefweb | AFP
Quatre rebelles ougandais des Forces démocratiques alliées (ADF) et un militaire congolais ont été tués jeudi au cours de violents affrontements dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo, a-t-on appris auprès de l’armée congolaise.

Congo-Kinshasa: Le chef de la MONUSCO exprime sa solidarité à la population victime d’attaques à Beni | 5 December 2014 | allAfrica | UN News
Après les massacres, Martin Kobler invite la Monusco et les FARDC “à réagir vite” | 5 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
A l’issue d’une visite de deux jours à Beni et Eringeti (Nord-Kivu), qui ont été récemment victimes d’attaques par des rebelles des Forces démocratiques alliées (ADF), le chef de la Mission des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO), Martin Kobler, a réaffirmé vendredi l’engagement de l’ONU à lutter contre les groupes armés.

Civilians attacked with axes in eastern DRC | 7 December 2014 | Al Jazeera
Suspected Ugandan rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have hacked 36 people to death with machetes and axes,authorities said. The attack took place overnight in the village of Oicha in the area of Beni in the North Kivu province, reports said on Sunday. The Allied Democratic Forces and National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF-NALU) rebels have been blamed for the attacks.

Massacre dans l’Est de la RDC : le bilan s’alourdit à 36 morts (autorités locales) | 7 December 2014 | Reliefweb | AFP
Nouveau massacre à Beni | 7 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Trente-six personnes ont été tuées dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche lors d’un nouveau massacre attribué à des rebelles ougandais dans l’Est de la République démocratique du Congo, selon un nouveau bilan des autorités locales. Cette nouvelle tuerie attribuée aux Forces démocratiques alliées (ADF) porte à plus de 250 le nombre de personnes tuées dans des circonstances similaires dans le territoire et la ville de Beni, dans le Nord de la province du Nord-Kivu depuis le début du mois d’octobre.

Martin Kobler demande des actions conjointes pour «éliminer les terroristes» |  8 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le chef de la Monusco, Martin Kobler, condamne le nouveau massacre contre des civils dans le territoire de Beni (Nord-Kivu) et demande des actions immédiates conjointes entre la mission onusienne et les Forces armées de la RDC «pour éliminer les terroristes». Dans un communiqué publié dimanche 7 décembre, il se dit «profondément choqué» par ce massacre, qui a fait la veille une trentaine de morts selon la société civile et une dizaine d’après les sources officielles.

More killings follow massacre in northeast DR Congo | 9 December 2014 | Reliefweb | AFP
More civilians have been slain in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo two days after the massacre of 36 people by suspected Ugandan rebels, army and civilian sources said Tuesday. “The ADF (on Monday) killed six civilians and wounded seven others” at Mamove, west of the town of Oicha in the Beni region, where the slaughter occurred on Sunday, said Ngeleka, spokesman for the Congolese military operation.

« Nous devons mettre fin à cette terreur », déclare Martin Kobler | 10 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Dans un message radiodiffusé, le Représentant spécial du secrétaire général des Nations unies en RDC, Martin Kobler, fustige les massacres perpétrés contre des civils dans le territoire de Beni au Nord-Kivu. « Nous devons mettre fin à cette terreur », déclare-t-il.

RDC: à Beni, des parlementaires dénoncent les manquements de l’armée | 6 December 2014 | Afrik Arabia
12 députés congolais se sont rendus en mission à Beni fin octobre après une série de massacres. Sans parvenir à établir les responsabilités dans les tueries, les députés pointent les « dysfonctionnements » dans l’armée congolaise et demandent « l’ouverture d’une enquête parlementaire ».

South Kivu

Reddition d’une faction de Raïa Mutomboki | 7 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
La reddition des combattants Raïa Mutomboki du groupe Kikuni est effective. Juriste Kikuni l’a confirmé  samedi 6 décembre  dans la soirée lors d’un entretien avec le gouverneur du Sud-Kivu, Marcelin Cishambo, en présence des représentants de la Monusco. A la tête de plus de deux mille hommes, ce chef milicien dit avoir accepté de déposer  les armes et se joindre au processus de la paix.

Uvira : le commandant de la brigade de la Monusco appelle les combattants à déposer les armes | 9 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le nouveau commandant de la brigade de la Monusco au Sud-Kivu, le général Ayyaz Masood, était en mission d’inspection des troupes lundi 8 décembre à Uvira. Avec le chef du sous bureau de la Monusco dans cette cité, ils ont évoqué la mission des casques bleus pakistanais dans la sécurisation et la protection des civils aux cotés des FARDC et de la police dans les territoires d’Uvira et de Fizi.

RDC: les FDLR mettent des conditions à leurs prochaines redditions | 11 December 2014 | RFI
En RDC, trois semaines avant la fin de l’ultimatum du 2 janvier, le désarmement des FDLR n’avance que très lentement. Les163 ex-combattants qui ont choisi de rendre leurs armes sont désormais avec leurs familles dans le camp de Kisangani. Mais depuis, aucune nouvelle vague de désarmement des FDLR n’a eu lieu.

Province Orientale

Ituri : le processus d’intégration des miliciens de FRPI dans l’armée piétine | 6 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
En Ituri, le chef de la collectivité de Walendu Bindi fustige la réticence des miliciens de la Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI), regroupés depuis un mois à Aveba, à intégrer les Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC). Dans un point de presse tenu jeudi 4 décembre à Bunia, cette autorité locale recommande à l’armée en Ituri à autoriser au chef de cette milice, Justin Banaloki Cobra, de se rendre à Aveba pour sensibiliser ses hommes à intégrer l’armée.

Ituri: les exactions des miliciens de la FRPI continuent malgré la reddition de Cobra Matata | 8 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Les miliciens de la Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI) de Justin Banaloki dit Cobra Matata ont emporté plus de cent vaches le vendredi dernier à Burasi, dans le territoire d’Irumu. Cette information, livrée à Radio Okapi dimanche 7 décembre par le chef de secteur de Bahema Sud, a été confirmée par la société civile de l’Ituri. Les éleveurs déplorent la résurgence d’exactions de ces miliciens, alors que leur chef s’est déjà rendu aux Forces armées de la RDC.

Katanga

Le général Kifwa appelle le chef milicien Gédéon à se rendre | 6 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le général Kifwa, commandant de la deuxième zone de défense regroupant les  provinces du Katanga et les deux Kasaï, appelle le chef milicien Kyungu Mutanga surnommé Gédéon à se rendre et à déposer les armes auprès de la Monusco ou des autorités du pays. Il a lancé cet appel vendredi 5 décembre à Lubumbashi au cours d’un point de presse.

CAR

Sangaris troop withdrawal

World Briefing: Central African Republic: Security Improving, French General Says | 4 December 2014 | New York Times
Gen. Éric Bellot des Minières, the commander of France’s military operation in the Central African Republic, says that security has improved considerably there and that the French authorities are studying plans for reducing troops. He was speaking a day before the first anniversary of President François Hollande’s order to deploy hundreds more troops in the former French colony amid sectarian killings.

Centrafrique : les troupes françaises vont passer de 2000 à 1500 hommes | 5 December 2014 | TV5 Monde
La France va réduire ses effectifs militaires en Centrafrique, un an après le le déclenchement de l’opération Sangaris, le 5 décembre 2013. Elle va en effet progressivement retirer ses soldats engagés en Centrafrique, passant de 2 000 hommes actuellement à 1 500 au printemps, a indiqué, ce vendredi, le ministre de la Défense Jean-Yves Le Drian, sur la chaîne d’information continue BFMTV.

Security in the CAR

Central African Republic: UN chief says security fragile, calls for vote by August 2015 | 5 December 2014 | UN News
The United Nations Secretary-General met today with the Head of State of the Transition of the Central African Republic, Catherine Samba-Panza, noting that the security situation in the country remained fragile, and agreeing on the need for urgent progress to establish an inclusive political process.

Revenge killings in Central African Republic leave at least 14 dead | 6 December 2014 | Reuters Africa
At least 14 people have been killed in tit-for-tat sectarian violence in Central African Republic, a Red Cross official said on Friday, and hundreds of Christians have sought shelter in the main church in the central town of Bambari. Muslim youths had rampaged through Christian districts after a Muslim taxi driver was killed in revenge for a Seleka rebel shooting a soldier in Bambari two days before, Mandaba Delphin, head of the Red Cross in Bambari, told Reuters by telephone.

RCA : la violence atteint la ville de Mbrés | 8 December 2014 | BBC Afrique
De nouvelles violences ont éclaté dans les localités de Mbrés à 90 km de Kaga-Bandoro dans e nord de la Centrafrique. Selon des habitants de Mbrés joints au téléphone, la tension est vive et très critique. Les hostilités entre Seleka de la communauté peulh et miliciens Antibalaka ont débuté le 1er décembre.

Arrest of Baba Ladde (Mahamat Abdul Kadre)

Central African Republic: UN mission captures rebel leader | 10 December 2014 | UN News
The Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has announced today the arrest of Chadian rebel leader and former CAR official, Mahamat Abdul Kadre. Mr. Abdul Kadre, also known as “Baba Ladde” was detained by MINUSCA forces on Monday in the latest of a series of actions that the Mission is undertaking as part of its Urgent Temporary Measures mandate to perform basic police functions in support of CAR authorities’ fight against impunity.

L’ex-chef de guerre tchadien Baba Laddé arrêté en Centrafrique | 11 December 2014 | RFI
L’information a été confirmée hier à Bangui par la Minusca. Mahmat Abdelkader Baba Laddé a été arrêté lundi par des casques bleus dans le nord de la RCA. L’ancien chef rebelle, nommé préfet par le président Idriss Déby en juillet, avait quitté le Tchad précipitamment au début du mois quand des militaires étaient venus le chercher chez lui.

Release of Miskine

Centrafrique: La libération d’ Abdoulaye Miskine consacre l’impunité selon la FIDH | 10 December 2014 | allAfrica | Hirondelle
La libération par le Cameroun du chef de guerre tchado-centrafricain Abdoulaye Miskine ne fait que consacrer l’impunité en Centrafrique, estime la Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l’homme (FIDH), dans un communiqué publié mardi.

Other

South Sudan shaken by ‘sustained’ fighting as political crisis continues | 3 December 2014 | UN News
An outburst of heavy fighting between Government and opposition forces in South Sudan represents the most sustained hostilities between the two parties since May, a United Nations spokesperson said today.

Fighting flares up in South Sudan after rains recede | 5 December 2014 | Reuters Africa
Government troops and South Sudanese rebels have been fighting for more than a week in a remote northern region of the country, a United Nations official said on Thursday, in the worst clashes since the rainy season receded in recent weeks.

Humanitarian news

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

DRC

Humanitarian Bulletins and reports

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu N°40/14 , 3 décembre 2014 | 4 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UN OCHA
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Sud-Kivu N° 41/14, 4 décembre 2014 | 4 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UN OCHA
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province Orientale N°35/14, 3 décembre 2014 | 4 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UN OCHA

Democratic Republic of the Congo: République Démocratique du Congo: 2015 Aperçu des besoins humanitaires | 5 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UN OCHA

CAR

Humanitarian Bulletins and reports

Central African Republic: Central African Republic Emergency Situation as of 28 November 2014 | 4 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR

Internally displaced persons

One year after the fall of Bangui, more than 852,000 Central Africans still displaced | 5 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR

Justice and Tribunals

Selected articles on criminal justice proceedings regarding crimes committed in the Great Lakes Region.

FDLR assistance conviction

Düsseldorf: Three guilty for aiding FDLR in Rwanda | 5 December 2014 | Deutsche Welle
A German court has convicted three men for links to an ethnic Hutu militia involved in killing Congolese citizens. The court found in 2011 and 2012, the two main suspects had posted rebel propaganda on the Internet.

Rwanda : trois membres des FLDR emprisonnés en Allemagne | 5 December 2014 | TV5 Monde
Trois Rwandais résidant en Allemagne ont été condamnés, ce vendredi, par un tribunal allemand à des peines de deux à quatre ans de prison ferme pour appartenance ou soutien aux rebelles hutu rwandais des Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR).

Rwanda

Genocide denial research

Rwanda: Senate to Act On Genocide Denial | 8 December 2014 | New Times
The Senate is planning countrywide research on Genocide denial and revisionism, to ascertain the extent of the problem, Bernard Makuza, Senate president has revealed. Makuza said this while addressing journalists, at the closure of this year’s third ordinary session of Parliament.

Emile Gafirita testimony and kidnapping

Me Cantier : “J’ignore qui a enlevé Émile Gafirita” | 3 December 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Me François Cantier, avocat du Rwandais Émile Gafirita, répond aux questions de “Jeune Afrique” au sujet de l’enlèvement de son client, au Kenya, mi-novembre. L’ancien sous-officier devait témoigner devant la justice française au sujet de l’attentat, en 1994, contre l’avion de l’ancien président hutu Juvénal Habyarimana.

L’étrange affaire Gafirita | 8 December 2014 | Jeune Afrique
C’est l’histoire d’un ancien sergent qui disait détenir des informations compromettantes pour Kagamé et qui a disparu, le 13 novembre. Enquête sur un dossier plein de contradictions.

Affaire Gafirita – J. Busingye : “Le gouvernement rwandais fait confiance aux magistrats français” | 8 December 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Kigali nie être impliqué dans l’enlèvement d’Émile Gafirita, témoin de la dernière heure dans l’attentat contre l’avion de l’ancien président rwandais Juvénal Habyarimana, en 1994. Interview de Johnston Busingye, ministre rwandais de la Justice.

Attentat du 6 avril 1994 au Rwanda : les révélations contradictoires d’Émile Gafirita | 9 December 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Le témoignage de dernière minute que le Rwandais Émile Gafirita – porté disparu depuis le 13 novembre – entendait apporter aux juges français chargés de l’instruction sur l’attentat du 6 avril 1994 au Rwanda laisse apparaître des contradictions avec ceux des transfuges du FPR qui l’ont précédé dans la procédure.

Burundi

Truth and reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Members Elected | 5 December 20114 | Hirondelle News Agency
Burundi’s parliament on Monday elected the eleven members of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), but the opposition refused to take part in the vote. The TRC is to cast light on ethnic massacres that have scarred the country ever since independence.

Burundi: Burundi: Expert de l’ONU évaluera les efforts entrepris en matière de justice transitionnelle | 5 December 2014 | Reliefweb | UN Human Rights Council
L’expert des Nations Unies, Pablo de Greiff, visitera le Burundi du 8 au 16 décembre afin d’évaluer les efforts entrepris jusqu’à présent par les autorités en matière de justice transitionnelle. Depuis son indépendance en 1962, le Burundi a traversé plusieurs périodes et vécu des incidents graves marqués par la violence et des abus flagrants, souvent à caractère ethnique.

Natural resource exploitation, governance and trade

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

Mining and aid

Canada is tying foreign aid to overseas mining development. It’s touted as “win-win,” but in Burkina Faso there are already some losers | 1 December 2014 | Toronto Star
Here at the intersection of old and new mining, an experiment in overseas aid is taking place. The Canadian government has partnered with Iamgold to fund a development project that seeks not only to benefit local people, but also to promote Canadian business abroad. As austerity-minded governments cut foreign aid, these private-sector development partnerships are gaining popularity. When the government announced three pilot projects in 2011, it chose to partner exclusively with mining companies.

Minerals in Africa

Positive prospects for African copper producers | 5 December 2014 | Mining Weekly
In the next 15 to 20 years, Africa will require greater volumes of copper for local use, owing to the likely development of several large infrastructural development projects on the continent, says professional services firm EY mining and metals sector leader for Africa Wickus Botha.

Diamonds look set to do well in 2015 – Investec | 5 December 2014 | Mining Weekly
Strong jewellery demand over the US holiday season looks supportive of 2015 being another good year for diamond prices, Investec Securities analyst Marc Elliott said on Thursday.

Diamonds: Timeless gems in a changing world | 9 December 2014 | Bain & Company and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre
In its fourth annual report on the global diamond industry, Bain & Company forecasts a solid outlook for diamond demand, but cautions that access to diamond financing, particularly for the middle market, could hamper future market growth.

Mining investment

The mining funds that bet on the long term | 10 December 2014 | Africa Mining Intelligence
For decades a hunting ground for opportunities and quick financial gain, the mining industry is fast becoming a preserve of investment funds which stick with explorers throughout their development cycle, or roughly for 10 years.

DRC

Mining

Congo-Kinshasa: Tricom/Gombe – La vente de trois titres miniers divise les associés de Kobamin et Medrada | 4 December 2014 | allAfrica | Le Phare
Un conflit minier oppose d’une part, les associés de la société Kobamin dont Mme Koka Bipendu et ses enfants, et d’autre part, la société Kobamin représentée par son gérant Tshimanga, contre la société Medrada sprl et consorts.

Congo-Kinshasa: Kinshasa – Le cuivre a rapporté 150 millions USD en 2013 au Trésor public contre 860 millions USD en 1989 | 6 December 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
Les 883.657 tonnes de cuivre exportées sur 914.631 tonnes de cuivre produites officiellement en 2013 en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) n’ont rapporté que 150 millions USD au Trésor public contre 860 millions USD en 1989 avec une production d’environ 420.000 tonnes. Au premier trimestre 2014, la production de cuivre a été de 492 882 tonnes.

Diamonds

Diamond Explorer Votes On Plan to Sell Congo Licenses For $1 | 7 December 2014 | Rapaport
Delrand Resources, a diamond mine explorer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), may sell all of the company’s exploration licenses for $1 if the move is approved by shareholders this Monday. The DRC is one of a handful of African countries that De Beers concluded were highly prospective for economically viable diamond deposits for commercial mining. Delrand was, until now, one of less than a handful of Western diamond mining and exploration companies that entered the DRC in the past two decades that was still operating there.

Oil

EnerGulf Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement | 9 December 2014 | MarketWired
EnerGulf Resources Inc. is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of Units of its publically traded securities at C$0.20 per Unit, in the total sum of C$500,000. Net Proceeds of the Private Placement will be used in seeking an extension of the Contrat De Partage De Production (“PSC”), and Permis d’ Exploration (“Exploration Permit”), for the Lothsi Block, Democratic Republic of Congo…

Rwanda

Mining

Rwanda: Miners Urged to Modernise Sector | 8 December 2014 | New Times
Local miners have been urged to embrace modern mining ways to fully benefit from the mining sector. The call was made by Evode Imena, the State Minister in charge of minerals at the Ministry of Natural Resources on Saturday during activities to celebrate mining Day in Burera District.

Uganda

Iron ore

260+ million tonnes of iron ore discovered in Uganda | 8 December 2014 | Mining.com
Uganda may become a more important player in the African iron ore market, after a geological survey revealed much bigger deposits of the steel-making ingredient than found during colonial mappings.

Regulation, voluntary initiatives, and CSR

Selected articles on legal and voluntary initiatives relating to natural resources and good governance.

Corporate human rights management

From Babylon to beyond – human rights development in mining | 8 December 2014 | mining.com
Human rights are as old as civilisation itself. First enshrined in law over 3700 years ago, they’re at the very heart of social expectations and responsibilities. Yet today the issue of human rights is evolving faster than ever before, especially now that social media has the power to thrust corporations overnight into the public limelight. Although mining companies are increasingly accountable for meeting international standards – not only directly within their operations but also in relation to supply chains – examples of serious violations are still being reported. In addition, human rights reporting is now mandatory for UK London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed companies, but very few have yet reported on the human rights risks that they face. James McNally, a technical director with Wardell Armstrong International and an authority on environmental and social corporate responsibility, looks at the critical role that effective human rights management and due diligence has to play in successful mining projects.

Conflict minerals debate

How the Dodd-Frank Act Has Caused Poverty and Fuelled War in Africa | 4 December 2014 | Reason Blog
A lot has been written about the Dodd-Frank financial reform package passed in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis. There has been much less coverage of an obscure provision in the legislation that is having a detrimental effect on the lives and livelihoods of millions of African miners.

DRC

Public-private partnerships

DRC’s Orientale ‘open for business’ – Bamanisa (video) | 8 December 2014 | Mining Weekly
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) largest province has embarked on a roadshow to court public–private partnerships (PPPs) and attract investors to develop the 503 239 km2 region that is being rebuilt.

Mining code revision

Mining code revision: a stalemate that suits operators | 9 December 2014 | Africa Mining Intelligence
With civil society is running out of patience, mining companies are only too happy about the logjam in updating legislation.

Other

DRC

New Government announced

Joseph Kabila nomme le gouvernement de «cohésion nationale» | 8 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le chef de l’Etat Joseph Kabila a nommé dimanche 7 décembre le gouvernement dit de cohésion nationale. L’annonce a été faite sur les antennes de la télévision publique. Matata Ponyo est maintenu Premier ministre. L’équipe comprend aussi des opposants. Ce gouvernement de cohésion nationale était attendu depuis plus d’une année. Joseph Kabila l’avait annoncé en octobre 2013 à la clôture des concertations nationales.

Gouvernement de cohésion nationale : qui sont les trois vices Premiers ministres ? | 8 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Les membres du MLC au nouveau gouvernement exclus du parti | 8 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Des cadres du MLC de Jean-Pierre Bemba ont signé lundi 8 décembre une déclaration révoquant de ce parti leurs trois camarades nommés ministres au sein du gouvernement de cohésion nationale.

DR Congo unity government formed by President Kabila | 8 December 2014 | BBC News
The president of Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has announced the formation of a new government which includes several opposition members. A senior member of opposition party the Movement for the Liberation of Congo has been named a vice prime minister.

Congo opposition party expels leader for joining unity government | 9 December 2014 | Reuters Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo’s second-largest opposition party, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), expelled its leader and two other senior officials on Monday, a day after they agreed to join a new national unity government. MLC Secretary-General Thomas Luhaka was named as one of three vice-prime ministers in the new government, while parliamentarians Germain Kambinga and Omer Egwake were awarded ministerial posts.

Gouvernement Matata II: la classe politique partagée entre satisfaction et scepticisme | 9 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le gouvernement Matata II suscite de nombreuses réactions dans les milieux politiques depuis sa publication le dimanche 7 décembre. Joseph Olengankoy (opposition) et Henri Thomas Lokondo (majorité) estiment que cette nouvelle équipe ne traduit pas la cohésion nationale tel que promis par le président de la République à la clôture des Concertations nationales en octobre 2013.

L’Opposition républicaine de Kengo Wa Dondo appelle au respect de la constitution | 9 December 2014 | Radio Okapi
L’Opposition républicaine a fait sa sortie officielle mardi 9 décembre à Kinshasa, deux jours après la publication du gouvernement de cohésion nationale.

Congo’s fractious opposition struggles to mobilise against Kabila | 10 December 2014 | Reuters Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition parties are united in their demands that President Joseph Kabila should not stay in power when his term ends in 2016 but personal rivalries and infighting are hobbling efforts to mount an effective campaign.

Burundi

Election build-up

Burundi: la Céni prolonge de cinq jours la période d’enregistrement | 6 December 2014 | RFI
Au Burundi, seulement 2,5 millions d’électeurs sur plus de 4,2 millions prévus s’étaient fait inscrire jusqu’à jeudi soir, alors que la période de deux semaines prévues pour l’enregistrement devait prendre fin demain, la Commission électorale nationale indépendante, (Céni), a décidé hier de prolonger de cinq jours cette période, en dépit des appels répétés de l’opposition à sa suspension.

Burundi groups urge halt to voter registration, cite fraud | 7 December 2014 | Reuters Africa
Civil society groups in Burundi on Sunday urged the electoral commission to halt voter registration and said fake identification cards were being used, highlighting tensions before next year’s elections. Opposition parties in the African nation which emerged from ethnic-fuelled civil war in 2005 made a similar demand last month, citing irregularities in appointments for the registration process.

Burundi: l’opposition unanime demande l’annulation de l’enregistrement des électeurs | 10 December 2014 | Reliefweb | AFP
Les 18 partis d’opposition du Burundi, unis pour la première fois, ont demandé mercredi à la commission électorale “l’annulation” des opérations d’inscription sur les listes électorales, accusant de “fraude massive” le parti au pouvoir. Depuis le début, fin novembre, du processus conduit par la Commission électorale nationale indépendante (Céni), médias, opposition et société civile ont dénoncé des fraudes et des irrégularités.

CAR

Electoral code

Central Africa: Modification of Electoral Code Blocked | 4 December 2014 | Cameroon Tribune
Hustling and bustling is already perceptible across the political chest board in the Central African Republic with the armed rebel movements; Ant-balaka and Seleka already being transformed into political parties in readiness for the June 2015 general elections announced by Transition President, Catherine Samba-Panza.

Bozize political address

RCA: François Bozizé prêt à revenir sur la scène politique | 10 December 2014 | RFI Afrique
François Bozizé est sorti de son silence. Dans une longue adresse à la nation, l’ancien président centrafricain est revenu sur son départ, et a livré sa lecture de la situation socio-économique et politique centrafricaine, tout en dessinant ses projets politiques. Une lettre datée du 10 décembre, deux ans après l’émergence de la Seleka qui a abouti à la prise du pouvoir en mars 2013 par les désormais ex-rebelles.

IPIS Recent Publications

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.IPIS Insights: The EU draft law on conflict minerals due diligence: a critical assessment from a business & human rights standpoint ❘ 30 April 2014 ❘ IPIS
On the 5th of March 2014, the European Commission proposed a responsible trading strategy for minerals from conflict zones. The proposal took place within a specific and timely context. As IPIS has long documented, the exploitation of natural resources can have adverse human rights impacts. Businesses operating in conflict-affected or fragile regions should therefore ascertain whether their direct operations or their business relationships with other parties, including through their supply chains, have fueled or funded conflict and/or human rights abuse.

Business & Human Rights in Uganda: What’s on the Agenda? | 12 March 2014 | IPIS
A few days after attending the annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, IPIS Business & Human Rights Analysts Anna Bulzomi and Gabriella Wass boarded a plane to Kampala, Uganda, to run a two-day training with ActionAid Uganda for businesses and NGOs on “What does business & human rights mean, and how can we bring about a healthy relationship between the two?” This document summarises some thoughts and observations from our 19 participating organisations, as well as providing snapshots of the current relationship between business and human rights in Uganda.

IPIS Insights: Pentagon Accidentally Arms Al Qaeda Affiliate | 20 February 2014 | IPIS
A confidential report to the UN Security Council last week revealed that some of the weapons and ammunition to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces appears to have been diverted to the Al Qaeda affiliate known as Al Shabaab.

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