NEWS IN BRIEF

The DRC army, with the support of UN troops, started an offensive against the FDLR in North Kivu. Meanwhile, military operations continued in Masisi and Beni. In Masisi, after a heavy machine gun attack by the APCLS militia, the UN troops struck back with helicopters. In Beni, the FARDC took control of another ADF/Nalu stronghold. Katanga saw new attacks on civilians by the Bakata Katanga rebel group.

In what is only the second conviction in its 12-year existence, the International Criminal Court (ICC) found former Ituri warlord Germain Katanga guilty of being an accessory to a crime against humanity and war crimes including murder and pillaging, but he was cleared on counts of rape and sexual slavery, as well as using child soldiers.

While the UN Security Council is considering sending peacekeeping forces to the Central African Republic (CAR), a UN human rights investigation team arrived in Bangui.
UN officials and rights groups said most Muslims have fled the capital and the west of the country – many of those remaining are waiting to be evacuated.
A Red Cross staff member and a local volunteer were killed, in Ndele (northeast) and Bangui.
French troops reached the town of Kaga-Bandoro in central CAR, to the relief of the local population surrounded by anti-balaka militias since several months.
Human Rights Watch reported the attack of a village in the northwest of the country by Seleka fighters only a few weeks ago.
While French President Hollande received death threats on an Islamist website, CAR and French officials expressed their fears of an infiltration into the country by Islamic terrorist groups.

South Africa expelled three Rwandan diplomats and one Burundian, linking Rwanda to the murder and attempted murder of Rwandan dissidents living in South Africa.

In what is thought to be the worst political crisis in Burundi since the ending of the civil war in 2006, the UN office in Burundi and the US expressed their concern over the political tension and the radicalisation of positions, following the violent police disruption of opposition party meetings.

IPIS’ Latest Publications

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.

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 

Africa is failing the Responsibility to Protect its citizens | 6 March 2014 | Pambazuka News
The R2P principle offers potential to protect civilians from crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, genocide and war crimes. Yet in Africa violations continue to occur despite the legal peace and security architecture to deliver on the principle.

Recruitment and use of children in government forces in conflict must end | 6 March 2014 | UNICEF
What We Can Learn from Child Soldiers | 10 March 2014 | IPS
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Ms. Leila Zerrougui and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake today unveiled a new effort to end the recruitment and use of children in government forces in conflict by 2016.

Security Council sets out steps to combat violations against children in armed conflict | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
The Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution setting out practical steps to combat violations against children in armed conflict, as United Nations officials underscored the need to do more to ensure that children are protected and perpetrators are brought to justice.

Gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa focus of UN–World Bank initiative | 10 March 2014 | UN News Centre
As the 2014 session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women got under way today, the head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) spotlighted the agency’s joint efforts with the World Bank to address the multidimensional challenges that women and girls face in Africa’s Great Lakes and Sahel regions.

#ElevatePeace – Building Momentum on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict | 12 March 2014 | Enough Project
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2014, the Enough Project organized and co-hosted an event last Thursday with the United Nations Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict entitled “Elevating the Conversation on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict.”

DRC

MONUSCO weekly press conference
Conférence de presse des Nations Unies du mercredi 12 mars 2014 | 12 March 2014 | MONUSCO

RDC : 80% du territoire à nouveau contrôlé par les autorités, selon l’ONU | 13 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Lors de son point de presse hebdomadaire, la Monusco a annoncé mercredi que “presque 80 %” du territoire congolais était de nouveau sous l’autorité de l’État en RDC. Une fierté pour les Casques bleus qui participent à la traque des groupes armés dans l’est du pays.”

UN helicopters strike back against APCLS attack in Masisi, North Kivu
Conférence de presse des Nations Unies du mercredi 12 mars 2014 | 12 March 2014 | MONUSCO
RDC : les drones de la Monusco ont accentué les vols de reconnaissance à Masisi et Walikale | 13 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Traque des groupes armés : les mesures sont prises pour protéger les civils, selon la Monusco | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
La situation sécuritaire dans la région de Nyabiondo, Masisi et Kashebere demeure tendue à cause des affrontements récurrents opposant les FARDC aux miliciens de l’Alliance des Patriotes pour un Congo Libre et Souverain (APCLS).
Le 9 mars 2014, en réponse aux tirs à la mitrailleuse lourde contre les Casques bleus de la Brigade d’Intervention et les aéronefs de la mission lors des opérations conjointes menées dans la région de Lukweti, les hélicoptères d’attaque de la Force de la MONUSCO ont riposté, facilitant la capture par les troupes gouvernementales des objectifs situés à Kilambo.

Militias in Walikale, North Kivu
Walikale: les chefs miliciens appelés à intégrer l’armée pour protéger la population | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
La Société civile de Walikale, dans le Nord-Kivu, appelle les chefs des groupes armés de ce territoire à intégrer le processus de démobilisation afin de rejoindre l’armée et de devenir des protecteurs de la population.

RDC : les drones de la Monusco ont accentué les vols de reconnaissance à Masisi et Walikale | 13 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Les drones de surveillance de la Mission des Nations unies en RDC (Monusco) ont accentué leurs vols de reconnaissance et de surveillance pour appuyer les opérations des Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) contre les groupes armés dans les territoires de Walikale et Masisi dans le Nord-Kivu.

Joint FARDC-UN operations against FDLR
RDC : 4 morts dans des combats | 9 March 2014 | BBC Afrique
Deux rebelles rwandais et deux soldats congolais ont été tués dimanche en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), lors d’une opération menée par les FARDC (l’armée régulière), de concert avec l’ONU.

RDC : l’armée congolaise et la Monusco préparent des opérations contre les rebelles du FDLR | 10 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
RDC: la Monusco va agir contre les FDLR | 10 March 2014 | BBC Afrique
RDC: la lutte contre les FDLR pose question | 11 March 2014 | RFI
L’armée congolaise et les Casques bleus de l’ONU préparent une offensive à l’encontre des rebelles hutu rwandais présents dans l’est de la RDC.

Martin Kobler announces MONUSCO’s strong support to FARDC operations against the FDLR | 11 March 2014 | MONUSCO
DR Congo: UN envoy urges rebels to ‘break away’ from armed groups | 11 March 2014 | UN News Centre
RDC : l’envoyé de l’ONU appelle les rebelles des FDLR à se rendre | 11 March 2014 | UN News Centre
RDC : Martin Kobler appelle les combattants des FDLR à se rendre sans délai | 11 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Désarmement forcé des FDLR – Le dernier ultimatum des Nations unies | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
Traque des FDLR – les FARDC et la MONUSCO préparent des opérations conjointes | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
“I urge all FDLR rebels to immediately break away from their leaders who are being prosecuted by justice, otherwise they will be forcibly disarmed,” declared Martin Kobler, the Head of MONUSCO.
Martin Kobler welcomes the launch of FARDC operations against the FDLR and affiliated armed groups. He announced MONUSCO’s support and direct engagement alongside the Congolese army.

U.N. and Congolese troops attack Rwandan Hutu rebels | 12 March 2014 | Reuters
U .N. peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo and government forces have attacked Rwandan Hutu rebels based in eastern borderlands, U.N. and Congolese officials said on Wednesday.

Nord-Kivu: les FARDC reprennent le contrôle de la localité de Miriki | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Les Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) contrôlent à nouveau la localité de Miriki, qui était occupée depuis deux ans par les rebelles rwandais des FDLR, dans le territoire de Lubero à environ 200 km au nord de Goma (Nord-Kivu).

Human rights violations in Lubero, North Kivu
Kanyabayonga : plusieurs cas de violations de droits de l’Homme, selon les ONG | 8 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Des violations graves des droits de l’Homme ont été commises au cours de ces deux derniers mois à Kanyabayonga. Les ONG de droits de l’Homme et la Société civile du territoire de Lubero ont accusé les militaires et les groupes armés d’ être auteurs de ces violations au cours de l’atelier organisé depuis samedi 8 mars à Kirumba par l’ASADHO. Le vice-président provincial de l’Asadho, Justin Kyatsinge Saiba, parle de l’enrôlement des jeunes enfants dans les milices, de 8 cas de meurtre, de 17 cas d’assassinats, de 17 positions armées pour extorquer nourriture et argent et de 47 cas de viols identifiés.

Operation against AFD/Nalu, Beni, North Kivu
RDC: l’ONU sous le choc après l’attaque de l’un de ses convois | 7 March 2014 | RFI
En RDC, le 3 mars 2014, une attaque à la grenade a fait deux blessés parmi la force onusienne de maintien de la paix au Congo. Cette attaque d’un genre nouveau a choqué les forces de l’ONU déployées dans le pays. Rencontre avec le bataillon népalais de Béni, victime de l’agression.

The ADF-Nalu Was Next On the List | 6 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Independent (Kampala)
MONUSCO has vowed to help Kinshasa rid the region of the myriad rebel groups running amok in one of the continent’s most impenetrable regions. ADF-Nalu stands for Allied Democratic Forces-National Army for the Liberation of Uganda. It is one of the oldest but lesser known rebellions based in North-Kivu and is considered the only Islamist organisation in the region.

The Kicwamba Massacre | 6 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Independent (Kampala)
Analysis. June 8, 1998 remains a day of untold grief in the Rwenzori region, in south western Uganda. It reminds many of the gory images after the deadly attack on Kicwamba Technical College by rebels of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF).

RDC: le gouvernement satisfait du succès des FARDC sur les ADF à Beni | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le gouvernement congolais s’est dit satisfait du succès des Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) sur les rebelles ougandais de l’ADF dans le territoire de Beni (Nord-Kivu).

Beni : l’armée contrôle Makoyova 3, dernier bastion des rebelles ADF | 10 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Les Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) ont pris le contrôle de la localité de Makoyova 3, considérée comme le dernier bastion des rebelles ougandais des ADF à Beni. Le commandant de la 8è région militaire au Nord-Kivu et de l’opération « Sokola », le général-major Lucien Bahuma a annoncé lundi matin que les rebelles ont fui la localité après des combats qui ont fait 22 morts dans leurs rangs et deux du côté de l’armée. L’opération « Sokola », menée par l’armée contre les ADF dans le territoire de Beni, a débuté le 16 janvier.

FRPI militia says ready to surrender, Irumu, Ituri, Province Orientale
Ituri: la FRPI sollicite un couloir de sécurité pour se rendre aux FARDC à Getty | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le chef d’Etat-major du groupe armée Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI), Mbadu Adirodu sollicite un couloir de sécurité pour qu’il se rende avec ses hommes aux Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) à Gety, à 60 km au Sud de Bunia (Province Orientale).

Mob justice in Mahagi, Ituri, Province Orientale
Mahagi: plus 100 personnes lynchées en une année | 11 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Plus de cent personnes sont mortes dans le territoire de Mahagi depuis 2013 suite au lynchage.

Government launches voluntary civilian disarmament campaign in Ituri, Province Orientale
Ituri : le gouvernement lance une campagne de désarmement civil volontaire | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Tout civil habitant le district de l’Ituri, en Province Orientale, et détenant illégalement une arme à feu est invité à la rendre volontairement. Le ministre de l’Intérieur, Décentralisation et Sécurité, Richard Muyej, a annoncé mardi 11 mars l’organisation d’une campagne à cet effet. Cette activité bénéficie de l’appui financier du Programme des Nations unies pour le développement (PNUD).

Désarmement volontaire des civils en Ituri, 2 500 armes attendues | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
L’opération de désarmement volontaire des civils a débuté mercredi 12 mars en Ituri. Quelques civils se sont présentés avec des armes de type AK 47 et des lance-roquettes à la cérémonie officielle de lancement. La campagne prévoit de récolter 2 500 armes de tous calibres.

Bakata Katanga rebels attack villages in Mitwaba and Pweto, Katanga
Katanga : les casques bleus égyptiens déployés à Pweto | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Katanga : une cinquantaine de casques bleus égyptiens se déploient à Pweto | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Une unité d’intervention de casques bleus égyptiens de la Mission de l’Onu en RDC (Monusco) a été déployée mercredi 5 mars à Pweto, dans le nord du Katanga. Avec les territoires de Mitwaba et Manono, Pweto fait partie de la région surnommée le triangle de la mort à cause de l’insécurité qu’y sèment plusieurs groupes armés, notamment les Bakata Katanga.

Des miliciens Bakata Katanga incendient une dizaine de villages à Mitwaba et Pweto | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Conférence de presse des Nations Unies du mercredi 12 mars 2014 | 12 March 2014 | MONUSCO
Des miliciens Bakata Katanga ont attaqué près de dix villages des territoires de Mitwaba et Pweto au Katanga en l’espace d’une semaine. A en croire le président de la société civile de Mitwaba, ces combattants ont incendié toutes les habitations de ces villages et coupé les oreilles à six personnes.

DDR
Briefing: Troisième plan DDR en RDC : cette fois-ci sera-t-elle la bonne ? | 10 March 2014 | IRIN
Il y aurait 54 groupes armés en fuite dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), selon les estimations du gouvernement, qui prévoit de consacrer les cinq prochaines années à les éradiquer.

Katanga: le général Mbwayama reconforte les 1100 ex-combattants regroupés à Kamina | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Une délégation constituée des représentants de la Monusco/ Lubumbashi et de la sixième région militaire a visité mardi 11 mars le centre de triage et des transites de plus de mille cent ex-combattants venus du Nord- Kivu à la base militaire de Kamina.

Amnesty for acts of insurgency
RDC : 300 personnes pourraient bénéficier d’une amnistie pour faits insurrectionnels | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Trois cents personnes, dont des membres du mouvement insurrectionnel de février 2011, devraient bénéficier d’une amnistie pour faits insurrectionnels, a indiqué vendredi 7 mars la Cour militaire.

RDC : l’Asadho dénonce un monnayage de l’amnistie pour faits d’insurrection | 11 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
L’Association africaine des droits de l’homme (Asadho) dénonce un monnayage de l’obtention de l’amnistie pour faits insurrectionnels, près d’une semaine après que la justice en ait défini les conditions.

UN reports on MONUSCO and implementation of Addis Framework Agreement
Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2014/157) | 8 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UN Security Council

Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region (S/2014/153) | 11 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UN Security Council

ICC prosecutor in Kinshasa
RDC – CPI : Fatou Bensouda à Kinshasa pour demander “davantage de coopération” | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Fatou Bensouda à Kinshasa pour renforcer la coopération entre la CPI et la RDC | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
La procureure générale de la Cour pénale internationale, Fatou Bensouda, séjourne depuis mardi à Kinshasa. Un entretien avec le président congolais, Joseph Kabila, est prévu le 13 mars pour solliciter “davantage de coopération” de la RDC.

Rwanda

Diplomatic crisis Rwanda-South Africa over attacks on Rwandan dissidents living in South Africa
South Africa, Rwanda expel diplomats in row over Rwandan exiles | 7 March 2014 | Reuters
Rwanda, South Africa Expel Each Others Diplomats, Minister Says | 7 March 2014 | Bloomberg
Afrique du Sud-Rwanda : expulsions croisées de diplomates entre Kigali et Pretoria | 7 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Crise diplomatique entre l’Afrique du Sud et le Rwanda | 7 March 2014 | RFI
South Africa expelled three Rwandan diplomats it linked to a raid on an exiled Rwandan general’s Johannesburg home, and Rwanda has retaliated by ordering out six South African envoys, officials said on Friday.

Six S. African Envoys Expelled | 8 March 2014 | allAfrica | The New Times (Kigali)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expelled six members of the South African diplomatic staff in protest over the latter’s harbouring of Rwandan dissidents.

Les Etats-Unis condamnent l’attaque contre la maison du général Kayumba | 8 March 2014 | RFI
Washington hausse une fois de plus le ton contre Kigali. Les Etats-Unis condamnent l’attaque menée contre la résidence du général rwandais Kayumba Nyamwasa et félicitent le gouvernement sud-africain pour l’enquête menée, non seulement sur cet incident, mais aussi sur l’assassinat en Afrique du Sud d’un autre opposant rwandais, Patrick Karegeya.

Revue de presse: Johannesburg reconsidère ses relations avec Kigali | 9 March 2014 | RFI
La presse sud-africaine revient sur la crise diplomatique entre le Rwanda et l’Afrique du Sud après que trois diplomates rwandais ont été sommés de quitter le pays ce 6 mars après une nouvelle tentative d’assassinat visant le général rwandais en exil Kayumba Nyamwasa. Johannesburg pourrait prendre des mesures encore plus sévères dans les jours qui viennent.

South Africa expels Burundi diplomat: Burundian official | 10 March 2014 | Reuters
South Africa Expels Burundian Diplomat Amid Dispute With Rwanda | 10 March 2014 | Bloomberg
South Africa expelled a Burundian diplomat after removing Rwandan government officials in connection with the attempted attack on an exiled Rwandan army general in Johannesburg last week.

South Africa to Rwanda – Don’t Touch Us On Our Sovereignty! | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | Daily Maverick
Analysis. Rwanda and South Africa are still on speaking terms, but only barely – and if Dirco gets its way even this tenuous relationship will be terminated in the next few days.

Rwanda and South Africa should not sever relations over Nyamwasa/Karegeya row – Frederick Golooba-Mutebi | 11 March 2014 | African Arguments
Rwanda and South Africa are once again caught up in a diplomatic row. This erupted following reports of an attack by a group of armed men on the Johannesburg residence of Rwandan dissident and former Army Chief of Staff, Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa.

Le Rwanda et l’Afrique du Sud se parlent «pour sortir de l’impasse» | 12 March 2014 | RFI
L’ambassadeur sud-africain au Rwanda a rencontré à Kigali la ministre rwandaise des Affaires étrangères Louise Mushikiwabo, a appris RFI de source diplomatique sud-africaine.

SA Not a Springboard for Illegal Activities | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | Sanews.gov.za
Radebe Issues Stern Warning to Rwanda | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | SAPA
South Africa rebukes Rwanda over attacks on exiled opponents | 12 March 2014 | Reuters
South Africa Sends ‘Stern’ Warning After Rwandans Expelled | 12 March 2014 | Bloomberg
L’Afrique du Sud lance un avertissement au Rwanda, après les expulsions de diplomates | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
South Africa delivered a diplomatic slap to Rwanda on Wednesday, warning it would not tolerate “criminal” attacks on its soil against Rwandan exiles that have drawn international criticism of President Paul Kagame’s government.

South Africa links Rwanda diplomats to attacks | 12 March 2014 | BBC Africa
Pretoria assure avoir des «preuves» contre les diplomates rwandais expulsés | 12 March 2014 | RFI
South Africa has accused three expelled Rwandan diplomats of links to the murder and attempted murder of Rwandan dissidents living in South Africa.

Rwanda Has Right to Reciprocate, Says Mushikiwabo | 13 March 2014 | allAfrica | The New Times (Kigali)
Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo has said Rwanda was justified in showing six South African diplomats the door in retaliation to three Rwandan diplomats being expelled from Pretoria. The diplomatic spat followed the alleged attack on the South African residence of a Rwandan fugitive, Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa.

Parliament rejects report by national Human Rights Committee
Why MPs Rejected Report By Human Rights Committee | 13 March 2014 | allAfrica | The New Times (Kigali)
Members of Parliament on Tuesday rejected a report by the Standing Committee on Unity, Human Rights and fight against genocide, on the 2012/13 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) findings, with MPs describing the report as shoddy. The 2012/13 NHRC report tabled before Parliament exposed several cases of abuse of human rights, ranging from illegal arrests, confiscation of property and expropriation without pay.

Burundi

South Africa expels Burundian dipomat amid dispute with Rwanda
South Africa expels Burundi diplomat: Burundian official | 10 March 2014 | Reuters
South Africa Expels Burundian Diplomat Amid Dispute With Rwanda | 10 March 2014 | Bloomberg
South Africa expelled a Burundian diplomat after removing Rwandan government officials in connection with the attempted attack on an exiled Rwandan army general in Johannesburg last week.

Uganda

Ugandan troops in South Sudan
Cut Off Uganda Military Aid to South Sudan’s Kiir | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Star (Nairobi)
Opinion. Despite the IGAD led mediation talks held recently in Addis Ababa, South Sudan’s political future looks disturbingly uncertain. In the face of the signing of a ceasefire, fighting continues in three of the most volatile and strategic states. International Crisis Group and the United Nation estimates the violence has claimed at least 10,000 civilians and left more than 800,000 citizens displaced since the chaos began in mid-December.

Central African Republic

Security situation
Des militaires tchadiens de la MISCA accusés d’avoir tué 3 personnes à Bangui | 6 March 2014 | Radio Ndeke Luka
Les habitants du 5e arrondissement de Bangui accusent des éléments de l’armée tchadienne d’avoir tué mercredi trois personnes, dont un soldat de l’armée nationale, au bord l’avenue Koudoukou à la hauteur de Badamassi.
U.N. says west of Central African Republic ‘cleansed’ of Muslims | 6 March 2014 | Reuters
Central African Republic: Muslim Communities Emptied | 7 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Most Muslims have been driven out of the western half of conflict-torn Central African Republic, where thousands of civilians risk of being killed “right before our eyes,” the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said on Thursday.

U.N. says almost all Muslims have fled Central African capital | 7 March 2014 | Reuters
UN Says Almost All Muslims Have Fled CAR Capital | 7 March 2014 | Voice of America
Fewer than 1,000 remain of more than 100,000 Muslims who once lived in the capital of the Central African Republic, after a campaign of violence by Christian militias, the U.N. humanitarian chief said on Friday.

« Séquestrés dans le camp de transit de PK 12 » | 7 March 2014 | allAfrica | MSF
Près de la mosquée du camp de déplacés de PK 12, dans la banlieue Nord de Bangui – capitale de la République centrafricaine (RCA), se trouve une petite enclave, encerclée par les anti-Balakas, où vivent environ 1 800 musulmans et Peuhls (pasteurs nomades musulmans).

Centrafrique : l’ONU s’inquiète de la situation dans la ville de Boda | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
Centrafrique: 6000 musulmans de Boda candidats à l’exil | 10 March 2014 | RFI
RCA: urgence humanitaire pour les musulmans de Boda | 11 March 2014 | RFI
Centrafrique: à Boda, les candidats au départ vont devoir patienter | 12 March 2014 | RFI
Le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme (HCDH) a estimé vendredi que le situation s’est améliorée récemment dans certaines parties de la République centrafricaine mais a exprimé son inquiétude concernant la ville de Boda, à 190 kilomètres à l’ouest de la capitale Bangui.
Une mission humanitaire est attendue à Boda, où 11 000 musulmans vivent dans des conditions difficiles, protégés des milices anti-balaka par 80 soldats français et un contingent de la Misca.
Central African Republic: ICRC staff member killed | 8 March 2014 | ICRC
Red Cross worker killed in Central African Republic | 8 March 2014 | Reuters
RCA : un collaborateur du CICR tué | 9 March 2014 | BBC Afrique
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is profoundly shocked by the killing today of one of its staff members in northern Central African Republic. The killing occurred in connection with violence in Ndele. Armed men entered the Catholic mission there, where four ICRC staff were quartered, and killed one of them. The other three are safe.

Red Cross Mourns the Death of a Volunteer in the Central African Republic | 11 March 2014 | allAfrica | IFRC
Patrick Matede, a first aid volunteer with the Central African Red Cross Society, was attacked and killed in his parents’ home in Bangui Sunday night, not far from where he had been instrumental in providing assistance to families left homeless by the ongoing violence.

Centrafrique : quatre pillards tués dans des règlements de compte | 9 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique | AFP
Centrafrique : quatre pillards tués | 9 March 2014 | BBC Afrique
RCA: Bangui livrée aux bandes rivales | 10 March 2014 | RFI
Quatre pillards ont été tués par balle dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche à Bangui lors d’une altercation entre deux bandes rivales qui a dégénéré en fusillade, a-t-on appris de source militaire centrafricaine.

Samedi meurtrier à Bangui | 9 March 2014 | RFI
Sept personnes ont été tuées à Bangui ce samedi 8 mars, apprend-on de source médicale. La veille, quatre musulmans avaient été assassinés.

Deux enfants morts dimanche dans des explosions de grenades à Bangui et à Berberati | 11 March 2014 | Radio Ndeke Luka
Le premier incident s’est produit dans le 3e arrondissement de la capitale lorsqu’un enfant a fait exploser à l’aide d’un marteau une grenade qu’il avait ramassée lors d’une promenade. Le même dimanche, une explosion similaire a tué un enfant et blessé un autre à Berberati dans la Mambéré Kadéï.
Les forces Sangaris à Kaga Bandoro | 11 March 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
La population a laissé exploser sa joie suite à l’arrivée lundi des forces françaises dans la ville. Plusieurs familles qui avaient fui en brousse commencent à revenir.

Central African Republic: Seleka Fighters Attack Village | 11 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Heavily armed Seleka fighters joined by Muslim Peuhl cattle herders on February 26, 2014, carried out a deadly attack on the village of Bowai, northeast of Bossangoa, Human Rights Watch said today.

UN
Civilian protection stressed as Security Council mulls UN force in Central African Republic | 6 March 2014 | UN News Centre
Centrafrique : le Conseil de sécurité examine le projet de déploiement de 12.000 casques bleus | 6 March 2014 | UN News Centre
United Nations to Consider Large Peacekeeping Force for Central African Republic | 6 March 2014 | The New York Times
Centrafrique : l’ONU planche sur le déploiement de Casques bleus | 7 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Casques bleus en RCA: la procédure s’accélère à l’ONU | 7 March 2014 | RFI
Centrafrique : accord de principe sur une intervention de l’ONU pleines d’incertitudes | 7 March 2014 | Afrik.com
Top United Nations officials today underscored the need for urgent action to confront the myriad challenges facing the Central African Republic (CAR), as the Security Council considered Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s proposals for deploying a peacekeeping mission that will be tasked, first and foremost, with protecting civilians in the strife-torn nation.

CAR Urges UN to Dispatch Peacekeeping Force | 6 March 2014 | Voice of America
The foreign minister of the Central African Republic has asked the U.N. Security Council to quickly send a U.N. peacekeeping force to his country. The minister highlighted the deteriorating conditions in the CAR, and warned his country could be infiltrated by international terrorist groups.

‘Extremely grave’ situation in Central African Republic demands urgent action – UN official | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Further Bloodshed in CAR | 7 March 2014 | Voice of America
Painting a grim picture of war-torn Central African Republic (CAR), where months of inter-religious violence has wrecked State institutions, left millions on the brink of starvation and now threatens to suck in the wider region, the top United Nations relief official today called for urgent international action – more peacekeepers and more aid – to end the crisis.

Central African Republic: UN probe set to investigate reports of rights violations | 10 March 2014 | UN News Centre
Centrafrique : la Commission d’enquête se prépare à commencer son travail de terrain | 10 March 2014 | UN News Centre
Central African Republic: UN launches human rights probe | 10 March 2014 | BBC Africa
U.N. aims to bring killers to account in Central African Republic | 10 March 2014 | Reuters
UN Begins Inquiry Into CAR Abuses | 10 March 2014 | Voice of America
Centrafrique : début de l’enquête onusienne sur les violations des droits de l’homme | 11 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Les membres de la Commission internationale d’enquête sont à Bangui | 12 March 2014 | Radio Ndeke Luka
Centrafrique: départ précipité d’un des experts des Nations unies | 13 March 2014 | RFI
The United Nations has launched a human rights investigation into the violence in the Central African Republic. Underscoring CAR’s history of coups, violence and impunity, the head of the UN inquiry warned today that the spread of hate speech and the collapse of law and order in the strife-riven country are likely precursors to grave human rights violations, including genocide.

CAR Crisis Places Burden on Neighbors | 11 March 2014 | Voice of America
Abou Moussa invite les voisins de la RCA à s’unir pour gérer la crise | 11 March 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
The U.N. secretary-general’s special representative for Central Africa, Abou Moussa, is calling for a global response to help the region cope with the impact of the crisis in the Central African Republic.

AU Support Mission (MISCA)
Crise centrafricaine – la Guinée Équatoriale envoie un nouveau contingent militaire | 6 March 2014 | allAfrica | Les Dépêches de Brazzaville
La Guinée Équatoriale annonce l’envoi d’un nouveau contingent militaire en Centrafrique pour la pacification du pays, sans donner le nombre.

Les Etats-Unis offrent 37 véhicules militaires à la MISCA | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | Info Plus Gabon
Le Département d’Etat américain a remis dimanche dernier à Yaoundé 37 véhicules à la Mission internationale de soutien à la République centrafricaine (MISCA), annonce un communiqué de l’ambassade des Etats-Unis au Cameroun transmis à la PANA.

Islamist death threats against French President Hollande
Militant Islamist website calls for attacks on France and Hollande: SITE | 11 March 2014 | Reuters
François Hollande, “tête de l’athéisme et de la criminalité”, menacé de mort par des islamistes | 11 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Al Qaida-linked website calls for Hollande’s assassination | 11 March 2014 | RFI English
An Al Qaida-linked website has called for the assassination of President François Hollande and French soldiers because of France’s military interventions in Mali and the Central African Republic. Sources close to the president promised “extreme vigilance”, while declaring that such threats were nothing new.

Background, analysis, comments, interviews
Halting the Central African Republic’s descent into hell | 5 March 2014 | Pambazuka News
The French have a historic role in the current crisis in the Central African Republic in assisting dictators install themselves into power. A way forward is for a Christian and Muslim Monitoring Group to identify individuals perpetrating hate crimes and help bring justice to all victims.

Repairs Begin in CAR After Year of Massive Looting | 6 March 2014 | Voice of America
The rebellion in the Central African Republic last year turned into the worst looting spree the country has ever seen. The Seleka rebels and criminal gangs pillaged businesses, homes, government offices, religious missions, health centers and public utilities.

Guerre religieuse ou lutte de pouvoir ? | 6 March 2014 | allAfrica | DW
La situation reste très instable en République Centrafricaine, où les violences sont quotidiennes. On parle souvent d’un conflit entre musulmans et chrétiens, mais les origines de la crise sont plus complexes.

Central African Republic. Violence takes new shapes | 7 March 2014 | Africa Confidential
The patterns of violence in Bangui are changing. One month ago, most of the killing was carried out by gangs attacking civilians in numbers but now the lynch mobs have largely gone. Instead, targeted killings have become the norm and as a result, there are fewer corpses on the streets.

Mathias Morouba à la VOA: “dans ces conditions, ce n’est pas possible d’organiser des élections en Centrafrique” | 7 March 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
Le président de l’Observatoire centrafricain des droits de l’homme est l’invité de la Voix de l’Amérique. Il explique que sans armée ni justice fonctionnelles, le scrutin présidentiel 2015 est impossible à organiser alors que près d’un million de personnes sont déplacées suite au conflit.

Central African Republic: Legacy of Misrule | 7 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Questions and Answers

The Central African Republic’s complex war, explained in the journey of a Muslim baby girl | 8 March 2014 | The Washington Post
Boyali, Central African Republic — Fatimatu Yamsa will never know her baby’s fate, but in an instant she altered it forever.

Central African Republic: Anti-Balaka Thirst for Revenge | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | DW
The anti-balaka have a long history in the Central African Republic. Originally, they were local self-defense groups. Every village had its own militia. Now they are pawns, manipulated by their political leaders.

Centrafrique: Les Faca sont la pièce manquante | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | Les Dépêches de Brazzaville

France – Afrique : comment l’armée a pris le pouvoir | 10 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Du Mali à la Centrafrique, jamais les militaires n’ont autant pesé sur la politique africaine de Paris. Au grand dam des diplomates…

Deux chefs religieux vont plaider la cause centrafricaine à New York | 11 March 2014 | RFI
L’archevêque de Bangui, monseigneur Nzapalainga, et le président de la communauté islamique de Centrafrique, Omar Kobine Layama, sont en chemin pour les États-Unis pour convaincre les Nations unies et les dirigeants américains de l’importance du déploiement d’une mission onusienne de maintien de la paix.
Crise en RCA – le gouvernement craint l’installation de Boko Haram au Nord | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
CAR Urges UN to Dispatch Peacekeeping Force | 6 March 2014 | Voice of America
La situation sécuritaire très critique en Centrafrique, avec comme corolaire des actions violentes contre la population musulmane, ce qui risque de servir de prétexte à l’installation de la secte ismaliste Boko Haram au Nord de ce pays.

Nigeria-Centrafrique, la dangereuse connexion | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Après s’être réfugié au Bénin, Noureddine Adam serait, selon les services de renseignements français, au Nigeria. Une présence qui inquiète Paris.

CAR farmers struggle to recover from devastation | 12 March 2014 | IRIN
Bessan – With the year’s main planting season just weeks away, many in the Central African Republic have been left desperately ill-equipped by months of conflict.

CAR refugees overwhelm Cameroon | 12 March 2014 | IRIN
Up to 130,000 refugees have fled from the Central African Republic (CAR) to Cameroon, many of them wounded from attacks, dehydrated or traumatized, say local officials and aid workers, who are struggling to cope with the speed of the influx.

Humanitarian news

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

DRC

Situation humanitaire dégradante à Masisi, selon l’administrateur de territoire | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi

L’Union européenne accorde à la RDC une aide de 620 millions d’euros | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
L’Union européenne va accorder à la RDC une aide au développement de 620 millions d’euros (environ 861 millions de dollars américains) pour la période 2014-2020.

Zongo : mise en place d’une commission pour recenser les réfugiés centrafricains | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Pour éviter l’arrivée des combattants armés à Zongo, Michel Siazo, le maire de cette ville de l’Equateur, a mis en place la semaine dernière une commission pour recenser tous les réfugiés centrafricains qui fuient l’insécurité dans leur pays.

Province Orientale: des réfugiés et déplacés affluent vers Aba | 12 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Un afflux de personnes est observé dans la cité d’Aba (Province Orientale) depuis le début de cette année. Selon les autorités de la cité, ces personnes reviennent de Nyori, Lasu et de Yei, villes du Soudan du Sud où le HCR avait ouvert un camp pour les réfugiés congolais qui avaient fui depuis 2009 des exactions attribuées aux rebelles ougandais du LRA.

UNOCHA bulletins and maps
DR Congo: Humanitarian challenges (February 2014) | 10 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Katanga N° 08/14, 05 mars 2014 | 7 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Katanga N° 09/14, 12 mars 2014 | 12 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA
La situation sécuritaire dans les territoires de Manono, Mitwaba, Moba et Pweto est loin de s’améliorer, en raison de la persistance de l’activisme des groupes Mayi Mayi. Cette insécurité aggrave la précarité de la situation des populations civiles.

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Sud-Kivu N° 08/14, 12 mars 2014 | 12 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Province du Nord-Kivu : Personnes déplacées internes dans les sites de déplacement (au 25 fév. 2014) | 10 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Nord-Kivu : Situation des personnes déplacées internes (PDI) au 25 février 2014 | 12 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNOCHA

Rwanda

Innovation: New Rwanda site a pilot for refugee camp planning and design | 7 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR
Mugombwa, Rwanda, March 7 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency has opened a new camp in southern Rwanda that will house thousands of Congolese refugees and act as a test bed for camp planning and design.

Uganda

La Croix-Rouge Ougandaise reçoit des réfugiés en provenance du Soudan du Sud | 8 March 2014 | allAfrica | IFRC
Deux mois après la violence qui a éclaté au Soudan du Sud, il y a une foultitude d’activités au centre de transit de Nyumanzi dans le district d’Adjumani au nord-ouest de l’Ouganda, le premier arrêt obligé des réfugiés en quête de sécurité.

Uganda Emergency Update Covering the southwest, midwest and northwest, 26 February – 4 March 2014 | 11 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNCHR

Les familles sud-soudanaises dans le besoin dans les camps de réfugiés en Ouganda | 11 March 2014 | allAfrica | IFRC
John Adjak Mapior regarde ses jeunes enfants jouer innocemment au camp de réfugiés d’Alere au nord de l’Ouganda.

Central African Republic

Remarks to the United Nations Security Council, António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 6 March 2014 | 6 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR
“I do not remember any field visit in my 8-year tenure as High Commissioner that caused me such anguish as my recent trip to the Central African Republic.”

CAR Refugees in Chad Need Urgent Aid, Protection | 7 March 2014 | Voice of America
Chad is now home to more than 80,000 refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR). Most of them are Muslims who have fled the recent violence in the CAR. Aid agencies say these refugees urgently need food and shelter.

CAR Crisis Places Burden on Neighbors | 11 March 2014 | Voice of America
The U.N. secretary-general’s special representative for Central Africa, Abou Moussa, is calling for a global response to help the region cope with the impact of the crisis in the Central African Republic.

Central African Republic Update #9, 15 to 28 February 2014 | 11 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UNHCR

EU provides €4 million to help refugees fleeing violence in Central African Republic | 11 March 2014 | Reliefweb | European Commission
The European Commission will provide life-saving assistance to a hundred thousand victims of the violence in Central African Republic (CAR) who have been forced to flee to Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

RCA: rapatriement de Tchadiens ayant fui au Cameroun | 11 March 2014 | La Voix de l’Amérique
Dans un premier temps, un groupe de quelques 1000 Tchadiens doivent retourner dans leur pays d’origine bord de convois routiers.

Central African Republic: Interview – “A Major Humanitarian Disaster Is Underway” | 11 March 2014 | allAfrica | Cameroon Tribune
Kouassi Lazare Etien, UNHCR Representative in the Central African Republic, CAR, speaks on the serious humanitarian situation the country faces, with rains just around the corner.

CAR farmers struggle to recover from devastation | 12 March 2014 | IRIN
Bessan – With the year’s main planting season just weeks away, many in the Central African Republic have been left desperately ill-equipped by months of conflict. In the charred village of Bessan, to the west of the country, the concerns are typical: a dire lack of seeds, tools and manpower.

CAR refugees overwhelm Cameroon | 12 March 2014 | IRIN
Up to 130,000 refugees have fled from the Central African Republic (CAR) to Cameroon, many of them wounded from attacks, dehydrated or traumatized, say local officials and aid workers, who are struggling to cope with the speed of the influx.

Justice and Tribunals

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

DRC

ICC – Germain Katanga found guilty
Congo warlord verdict a test for flagging international court | 6 March 2014 | Reuters
The International Criminal Court passes judgment on alleged Congo warlord Germain Katanga on Friday in a key test of the prosecutors’ ability to bring solid cases and win convictions at the Hague-based tribunal.

DRC: All you need to know about the historic case against Germain Katanga | 6 March 2014 | Amnesty International
Tomorrow, the International Criminal Court will hand down its verdict in the case against Germain Katanga, former leader of the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri, an armed opposition group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Katanga is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to an attack on Bogoro, a village in the Ituri district of the country, in early February 2003.
The decision will be extremely significant because, amongst other issues, it will deal with charges of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and sexual slavery, for the first time.

Germain Katanga found guilty of four counts of war crimes and one count of crime against humanity committed in Ituri, DRC | 7 March 2014 | Reliefweb | CPI – ICC
Today, 7 March 2014, Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC), ruling in the majority, with Judge Christine Van den Wyngaert dissenting, rendered its judgment in the case The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga. The Chamber was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of Germain Katanga’s guilt as an accessory (…) to one crime against humanity (murder) and four war crimes (murder, attacking a civilian population, destruction of property and pillaging) committed on 24 February 2003 during the attack on the village of Bogoro, in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Decisions on sentencing and victim reparations will be rendered later. The Prosecutor and the Defence may appeal the judgment within 30 days.

DR Congo warlord Germain Katanga found guilty at ICC | 7 March 2014 | BBC Africa
International Criminal Court Convicts Congolese Warlord | 7 March 2014 | Voice of America
Congolese Militia Leader Convicted in Attack on Village | 7 March 2014 | The New York Times
Congo warlord’s conviction brings relief to international court | 7 March 2014 | Reuters
Congo Rebel Leader Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity | 7 March 2014 | Bloomberg
Germain Katanga guilty of murder and pillage in Congo massacre | 7 March 2014 | The Guardian
CPI : Le chef de milice congolais Germain Katanga reconnu coupable | 7 March 2014 | Hirondelle News Agency
RDC: Germain Katanga reconnu coupable de crimes de guerre et crimes contre l’humanité | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Justice internationale: Germain Katanga déclaré coupable par la CPI | 7 March 2014 | RFI
The International Criminal Court has found Congo militia leader Germain Katanga guilty of charges including murder and pillage over a deadly attack on a village in eastern Congo, but acquitted him of rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.

UN welcomes International Criminal Court conviction of former DR Congo militia leader | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
CPI : un ancien chef de milice congolais déclaré coupable de crimes en RDC | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
RDC: Martin Kobler salue le verdict de la CPI contre Germain Katanga | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi

DRC/ICC: Katanga found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity | 7 March 2014 | Amnesty International
ICC: Congolese Rebel Leader Found Guilty | 7 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Prosecutor Needs to Continue Investigations in Congo
DRC: Germain Katanga before the International Criminal Court, A Mixed Verdict | 7 March 2014 | FIDH
DRC: Katanga’s ICC Conviction is One Small Step towards Justice | 7 March 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
Katanga convicted: Has justice been done? | 7 March 2014 | Al Jazeera

Katanga condamné – les réactions des Ituriens | 7 March 2014 | allAfrica | Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Interrogés aujourd’hui vendredi juste après la publication du verdict prononcé par la CPI contre Germain Katanga, les jeunes Ituriens sont satisfaits du jugement, pour eux une manière de décourager les autres criminels.

Les organisations des droits de l’homme saluent le verdict dans l’affaire Germain Katanga | 10 March 2014 | Hirondelle News Agency
RDC : le Renadhoc salue la condamnation de Germain Katanga à la CPI | 11 March 2014 | Radio Okapi

Congolese Rebel’s Conviction Only a Qualified Success | 11 March 2014 | Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR)
Experts say changes to the charges against Germain Katanga raise serious questions about the final judgement.

Rwanda

Simbikangwa genocide trial in Paris
Quatorze ans après ses aveux au TPIR, Georges Ruggiu refuse de témoigner à visage découvert à Paris | 6 March 2014 | Hirondelle News Agency
L’Italo-Belge Georges Ruggiu, seul non-Rwandais à avoir été jugé par le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR) pour son rôle dans le génocide des Tutsis de 1994 au Rwanda, a refusé de témoigner à visage découvert au procès du capitaine Pascal Simbikingwa, premier Rwandais jugé en France pour son rôle présumé dans ce génocide.

Les défenseurs de Pascal Simbikangwa veulent aller sur le terrain | 6 March 2014 | RFI

Procès Pascal Simbikangwa: la défense encore une fois ébranlée | 7 March 2014 | RFI

Procès Simbikangwa: fin des débats, délibéré la semaine prochaine | 7 March 2014 | RFI
Invité surprise après cinq semaines de procès, le frère de Pascal Simbikangwa | 7 March 2014 | allAfrica | Hirondelle News Agency
Procès Simbikangwa : l’heure du bilan après des débats parfois confus | 7 March 2014 | Afrik.com
Dans le procès aux assises de l’ancien capitaine rwandais Pascal Simbikangwa, poursuivi pour « complicité de génocide » et « complicité de crimes contre l’humanité », les débats se sont achevés ce vendredi 7 mars après cinq semaines d’audiences. Il s’agit du premier procès en France lié au génocide qui a fait 800 000 morts au Rwanda en 1994. Les plaidoiries et le délibéré sont attendus pour la semaine prochaine. Bilan des débats.

Génocide rwandais : dernière ligne droite dans le procès de Pascal Simbikangwa, qui nie toujours | 8 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique | AFP
Le premier procès en France lié au génocide de 1994 au Rwanda entre lundi dans sa dernière semaine avec un accusé, Pascal Simbikangwa, qui affirme toujours avoir traversé ces 100 jours où 800.000 personnes ont été massacrées sans voir un seul cadavre.

Le procès Simbikangwa entre dans sa dernière semaine | 10 March 2014 | RFI
Procès Simbikangwa: début des plaidoiries des parties civiles | 10 March 2014 | RFI
Procès de Simbikangwa : le « symptôme du tueur-sauveteur », selon les parties civiles | 11 March 2014 | Afrik.com
Début de la dernière semaine d’audiences, avec la première journée ce lundi des plaidoiries des parties civiles. Ce sont les avocats de la Fédération internationale des droits de l’homme qui ont commencé.

Génocide rwandais : des rescapés de camps nazis présents au procès Simbikangwa | 11 March 2014 | Afrik.com
Les deux avocats de la CPCR, le collectif des parties civiles pour le Rwanda, sont intervenus, ce mardi matin, au cours de la deuxième journée de plaidoirie des parties civiles. Elles ont fait venir des associations de déportés, une manière de faire pression sur les jurés et un aboutissement dans leur argumentation émaillée par certaines imprécisions.

Verdict vendredi dans le premier procès en France lié au génocide des Tutsis | 11 March 2014 | Hirondelle News Agency
La Cour d’assises de Paris prononcera son verdict vendredi dans le procès du capitaine Pascal Simbikangwa, premier Rwandais jugé en France pour sa participation présumée au génocide des Tutsis de 1994.

Procès Simbikangwa: l’heure est au réquisitoire | 12 March 2014 | RFI
Direct – Procès Simbikangwa : l’accusé face au réquisitoire | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Procès Simbikangwa : l’accusé risque la perpétuité pour crime de génocide | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Procès Simbikangwa : l’avocat général requiert la prison à perpétuité contre le capitaine rwandais | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Génocide au Rwanda: la perpétuité requise contre Pascal Simbikangwa | 12 March 2014 | RFI
L’avocat général de la cour d’assises de Paris a requis la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité à l’encontre de Pascal Simbikangwa. L’ancien militaire rwandais est accusé de complicité de génocide et de crimes contre l’humanité. Le ministère public a demandé la requalification des charges, pour que l’accusé soit condamné en tant qu’auteur, et non comme simple complice.

Natural resource exploitation, governance and trade

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

Africa’s push to add value to minerals
Africa’s push to add value to minerals now a riskier gamble | 6 March 2014 | Reuters
African government efforts to force mining companies to process minerals before export may backfire as they come up against weakening commodity prices and investor demands that firms reduce risky investments.

China in Africa
Risky Business: Is China Wavering in Africa? | 6 March 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
Chinese companies and banks were once seen as bold and fearless as they invested in countries Western investors deemed too risky. But this may now be changing.

Les Chinois en Afrique : où sont-ils ? Que font-ils ? | 12 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
La présence chinoise en Afrique explose, ce n’est un secret pour personne. Dans un récent rapport sur la diaspora chinoise, le Conseil au commerce extérieur de la France détaille notamment leur présence sur le continent. Investissements, taille des diasporas, tout est là.

Hydropower
Mega-Dams Economically Unviable – Oxford Report | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | AlertNet
Most large-scale dam projects do more economic harm than good due to poor or dishonest planning – and their skyrocketing costs could play a role in crippling the fragile economies of some developing countries, a study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School charges.

Poaching
Threats of Poaching, Habitat Loss Focus of First World Wildlife Day | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | MediaGlobal
Habitat loss and illegal trade are two major threats faced by wildlife, experts said during the celebration of the United Nation’s first-ever World Wildlife Day. These twin threats often work together and each has the ability to threaten the well-being of humans as well as wildlife.

DRC

Research on identies, natural resources and conflicts in DRC
Géopolitique – Focus sur les identités, les ressources naturelles et les conflits en RDC | 8 March 2014 | allAfrica | Les Dépêches de Brazzaville
Sont coucheés dans le livre de 240 pages, les conclusions d’une somme de réflexions de chercheurs qui s’interrogent sur les « défis méthodologiques et voies de sortie » possibles. Fruit des recherches menées sous la direction du Pr. Germain Ngoie Tshibambe, Identités, ressources naturelles et conflits en RDC, Défis méthodologiques et voies de sortie ? s’emploie à revisiter les discours dominants qui s’élèvent en rapport avec les conflits en RDC.

Southern Africa Resource Barometer training
Southern Africa Resource Barometer Training in DRC | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | OSISA
The Southern Africa Resource Watch and the SADC-Parliamentary Forum will conduct a training session on the recently launched Southern Africa Resource Barometer for parliamentarians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The training will introduce them to the barometer and train them on the importance of its guidelines in relation to the extractive sector – guidelines that will help parliament to monitor extractive industries and help to ensure that they drive broad socio-economic development rather than merely enriching local elites and the shareholders of foreign multinationals.

Mining
La contribution du secteur minier au budget de l’Etat projetée à 25% en 2016 | 6 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
Le secteur minier étant considéré comme le moteur de son économie, la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) projette de porter la contribution du secteur minier au budget de l’Etat « de 9% en 2010 à 25% en 2016 ».

Power rationing in Congo may have only a marginal impact on Copper production | 7 March 2014 | Commodity Online
Power rationing in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may only have a marginal impact on copper production in the country and smaller miners are likely to be affected, according to Barclays.

Freeport says Congo mine can weather power-rationing | 7 March 2014 | Reuters
Mining company Freeport McMoRan said on Friday power rationing in the Democratic Republic of Congo would not affect its operations in the short term but that future expansion plans would depend in part on a reliable energy supply.

Dispute SOKIMO – Kibali Gold Mines
RDC: une question des royalties divise la Sokimo et Kibali Gold Mines | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
La société SOKIMO à couteaux tirés avec Kibali Gold Mines autour des royalties mal payées d’un contrat maintenant dénoncé pour son caractère léonin | 12 March 2014 | Digitalcongo.net
En mars 2009, la Société minière de Kilomoto (Sokimo) a cédé des gisements d’or à Kibali Gold Mines, filiale de la sud-africaine Ango Gold Ashanti en Ituri, Province Orientale. La Sokimo affirme attendre sans succès, depuis six mois, de Kibali entre 1 500 000 à 1 800 000 dollars américains par mois comme frais de royalties, des redevances qui lui sont dues en contrepartie de la cession de ses gisements d’or.

Loncor Resources
Loncor Resources Provides Corporate Update | 10 March 2014 | Loncor Resources Inc. | Marketwired
Toronto, Ontario – As required by the rules of the NYSE MKT LLC, Loncor Resources Inc. reports that it has received a letter from the NYSE MKT advising that the NYSE MKT has determined that the Company is currently not in compliance with Sections 1002(c) and 1003(c)(i) of the NYSE MKT’s Company Guide, relating to the Company’s reduced exploration effort.

Gecamines
Katanga : 20 000 creuseurs artisanaux ont envahi la carrière de Lupoto | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
La Gécamines dénonce l’occupation illégale de sa carrière de Lupoto par plus de vingt mille creuseurs artisanaux.

Germans in power overdrive | 11 March 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
The state-owned mining giant Gecamines is hoping to make up for power shortages in Katanga by starting to build a coal-fired power plant generating 500 MW at Luena before the end of 2014.

Hydropower
Inga III – la Banque mondiale fait sauter le verrou | 7 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
RDC : La Banque Mondiale soumet pour approbation le financement du barrage d’Inga | 10 March 2014 | Digitalcongo.net | APA
La Banque Mondiale a soumis ce jeudi, pour approbation au Conseil de ses Administrateurs un financement de 73 millions de dollars en faveur de la RD Congo, pour le projet d’assistance technique au développement d’Inga 3.

Kabila counts on Zongo 2 in 2015 | 11 March 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
With elections scheduled for next year, Congo-K’s president is touring the country to put pressure on builders of new dams. Sinohydro has received good marks for Zongo 2.

Oil exploration in Virunga National Park
Piebalgs et Labille invitent les autorités de la RDC à « respecter les engagements internationaux » au site des Virunga | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel
Le commissaire européen au Développement Andris Piebalgs et le ministre belge de la Coopération Jean-Pascal Labille invitent les autorités de la RD Congo à « respecter les engagements internationaux » au site des Virunga (Nord-Kivu), classé Patrimoine mondial de l’humanité. En effet, les deux personnalités « ont pris connaissance de l’enquête du Guardian publiée le 3 mars dernier relative aux activités de l’entreprise pétrolière SOCO dans la région des Grands Lacs, et plus particulièrement dans le parc des Virunga ».

Logging
Illegalities and Human Rights Violations – the Reality of the DRC’s Logging Sector | 11 March 2014 | allAfrica | Greenpeace International
One year after the publication of a Greenpeace Africa report on the situation of the logging sector in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the entry into force of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), the DRC forest sector remains in a state of organized chaos and continues to supply the illegal timber to the European market.

Bas-Congo: levée de la suspension de l’exploitation du bois | 11 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
La mesure interdisant l’exploitation du bois dans la province du Bas-Congo, en vigueur depuis sept ans, est levée.

Kinshasa : 270 grumes de bois Wenge saisies au port de l’Onatra | 11 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
Le ministère de l’Environnement a saisi mardi 11 mars 270 grumes de bois Wenge au port de la Société congolaise de transport et ports (SCTP), ex Onatra, à Kinshasa. Ce bois, appartenant à la société d’exploitation forestière ITB, provient de Bikoro, dans la province de l’Equateur. Le gouvernement reproche à cette entreprise de ne pas respecter les clauses sociales convenues avec les communautés de ce territoire où se trouve sa concession forestière.

Burundi

Hydropower
Regideso | 11 March 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
Work on building the Jiji dam (31.5 MW) on the (…)

Uganda

Oil
A taxing affair: Collecting oil revenues in Africa | 28 February 2014 | Oxfam America – The Politics of Poverty
Five experts say resource-rich African governments should not leave money on the table.

Oil and Gas Boom in East Africa Promises Riches, but Experts Fear Only Elites Will Benefit | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | AlertNet
The oil and gas bonanza in East Africa is changing the power dynamics of one of the poorest regions in the world, promising to free governments from long dependence on foreign aid once the billions of dollars in natural resource revenues start to flow.

Most oil wells are in my land-Kaahwa | 10 March 2014 | Oil in Uganda
When one brings up the subject of land anywhere in Buliisa district, one man’s name inevitably comes up: Francis Kaahwa-locally known as Franco. He is arguably the biggest land owner in Buliisa, laying claim to several prime pieces of real estate where some of the district’s oil wells are found.

Uganda Denies Delaying Oil Output | 10 March 2014 | allAfrica | East African Business Week
The government is not intentionally delaying production of oil, but rather taking necessary precautionary measures to get the best out of industry.

Nairobi steals the show from Kampala | 11 March 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
The snail’s pace of Uganda’s decisions concerning outlets for its oil could prompt some companies like Tullow Oil to strongly turn their attention to neighbouring Kenya. Reserves identified in the Lokichar and Turkana basins combined with Nairobi’s pro-active stance are indeed acting as a magnet.

Ernest Rubando | 11 March 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
The current boss of the Petroleum Exploration & Production Department (PEPD), a unit of Uganda’s energy ministry, is in pole position to become the first chairman of the future National Oil Company of Uganda.

Muloni touts new blocks | 11 March 2014 | Africa Energy Intelligence
Uganda’s energy and oil minister, Irene Muloni, headed a delegation to Houston between March 3-7 to make a pitch for a licensing round.

Gold
The Looming Battle for Uganda’s Gold | 10 March 2014 | Voice of America
Karamoja, Uganda — Having lost their traditional herds, the local people of Karamoja, Uganda, increasingly turned to small-scale gold mining as a meager but fairly steady source of income. But with large mining interests moving into the region, even their gold could soon be taken from them.

Regulation, voluntary initiatives, and CSR

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

Business & Human Rigths
Injustice incorporated: Corporate abuses and the human right to remedy | 7 March 2014 | Amnesty International
Amnesty International has today launched “Injustice Incorporated: Corporate Abuses and the Human Right to Remedy”. The book aims to advance the right to remedy for victims and survivors of corporate human rights abuses.

Other

Tax dodging in Africa
Most Africans Dodge Taxes Because of Corruption Among Revenue Authorities – Survey | 12 March 2014 | allAfrica | AlertNet
Most Africans say their willingness to pay taxes is undermined by corruption among revenue authorities in their country, while an opaque tax system actually encourages tax dodging, a new survey shows.

DRC

Opposition
Kinshasa: le retour de Kamerhe émaillé d’agitations | 7 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
RDC: retour mouvementé à Kinshasa pour l’opposant Vital Kamerhe | 7 March 2014 | RFI
L’opposant Vital Kamerhe, président de l’Union pour la nation congolaise, est rentré ce jeudi à Kinshasa après une tournée agitée dans l’est du pays. Un retour agité puisque des sympathisants ont été dispersés à l’aéroport par la police et que la grande majorité des journalistes a été interpellée par la Garde républicaine.

RDC : où est passé Étienne Tshisekedi ? | 11 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
À moins de deux ans de la présidentielle, l’opposition congolaise (RDC) cherche un nouveau souffle. Alors qu’Étienne Tshisekedi, le deuxième homme de l’élection de 2011, est en retrait, la relève ne semble pas encore assurée…

Anti-gay bill in DRC too?
DRC Looks to Follow in Uganda’s Footsteps with Anti-Gay Bill | 11 March 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
Ituri : les parlementaires favorables à la pénalisation de l’homosexualité | 6 March 2014 | Radio Okapi
A Congolese MP is leading the latest bid to criminalise homosexuality, but he will have to deal with a counter-campaign by LGBT activists and health workers if he is to be successful.

Rwanda

20 years after the genocide
Twenty years on, Rwanda’s reconciliation goes on step by step | 6 March 2014 | Reliefweb | AFP
Cyendajuru – In the years that followed the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Immaculee Mukankundiye would hear nothing of the word reconciliation.

20 ans après le génocide rwandais : l’horreur, le deuil et après ? | 12 March 2014 | Afrikarabia.com
Comment va le Rwanda vingt ans après le génocide ? Le chercheur Kris Berwouts dresse le portrait d’un pays écartelé entre réussite économique et pouvoir autoritaire.

Burundi

Political crisis – police clashes with opposition party members
UN official denounces restrictions on political rights ahead of Burundian polls | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
Burundi : Pillay dénonce les restrictions croissantes des droits civils et politiques | 7 March 2014 | UN News Centre
The United Nations human rights chief today voiced concern at the increasing restrictions on civil and political rights in Burundi, following a series of violent acts by the ruling party’s youth wing and the disruption of public meetings organized by opposition parties.

Une manifestation de l’opposition burundaise dégénère | 9 March 2014 | RFI
Burundi : la police blesse des opposants | 9 March 2014 | BBC Afrique
Burundi: violents affrontements entre policiers et opposants | 10 March 2014 | RFI
Samedi 8 mars, des affrontements, sans doute les plus violents dans les rues de Bujumbura depuis la fin de la guerre civile en 2006, ont eu lieu entre des centaines de policiers et des milliers de militants du parti d’opposition Mouvement pour la solidarité et le développement.

Call for Constructive Dialogue and Moderation, 10 March 2014 | 10 March 2014 | Reliefweb | UN Office in Burundi
Burundi: l’ONU appelle à la retenue et au dialogue | 10 March 2014 | RFI
Over the last few months, BNUB noted political tension in Burundi and a radicalization of positions that are likely to lead to an outright confrontation, as illustrated by recent events.

State Dept. On Violence in Burundi | 11 March 2014 | allAfrica | US Department of State
U.S. condemns ‘heavy-handed tactics’ by Burundi police in clashes | 11 March 2014 | Reuters
Burundi: les Etats-Unis préoccupés par la répression de manifestations | 12 March 2014 | RFI
The United States on Tuesday condemned what it called the use of heavy-handed tactics by Burundi’s police to break up opposition party meetings at the weekend in which more than a dozen people were injured and several were arrested.

Burundi seeks to arrest opposition leader after clashes | 12 March 2014 | Reuters
Burundi’s authorities have ordered the arrest of an opposition leader after clashes between his party members and police last week, a move the opposition said was a bid to remove rival voices before elections in 2015.

Des opposants inculpés d’insurrection au Burundi, où monte la tension politique | 12 March 2014 | Reliefweb | AFP
Burundi: l’opposant Alexis Sinduhije poursuivi pour «insurrection armée» | 12 March 2014 | RFI
Burundi : inculpés d’”insurrection”, 71 militants de l’opposition risquent la perpétuité | 12 March 2014 | Afrik.com
La justice burundaise a inculpé mercredi “d’insurrection”, infraction passible de la perpétuité, un responsable de l’opposition et 71 militants, après des affrontements particulièrement violents avec la police, risquant d’aggraver la tension dans ce pays sorti en 2006 de plus de dix ans de guerre civile.

Burundi on the Brink: Is Nkurunziza Tightening his Grip Ahead of 2015 Elections? | 12 March 2014 | ThinkAfricaPress
In recent months, opposition ministers have been sacked, violence by the ruling party’s youth wing have increased, and controversial constitutional reforms have been proposed.

Uganda

Anti-homosexuality law
Will Homosexuals Bring Down Museveni? | 6 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Independent (Kampala)
In April 2013, the global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, published a report entitled: “Making love a crime: Criminalisation of same sex conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa” in which Ugandan gay rights activist Frank Mugisha gave very emotional testimony.

Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill: looking beyond a single explanation – By Kristof Titeca | 7 March 2014 | African Arguments
Last Friday, a wealthier primary school in the suburbs of Kampala had a special occasion during their Friday Assembly (in which students hold performances): the P2 class reenacted the signing of the anti-homosexuality bill by President Museveni.

Ouganda: face à la loi homophobe, plusieurs pays coupent leur aide | 7 March 2014 | RFI
De plus en plus de pays occidentaux réagissent à l’adoption, fin février, de la loi qui durcit la répression contre les homosexuels en Ouganda. Leur moyen de pression : couper les aides au développement, notamment celles versées directement à l’Etat ougandais. La Suède est le dernier pays en date à manifester son désaccord avec cette loi homophobe.

Ouganda: le droit des femmes bafoué | 7 March 2014 | RFI
En Ouganda, les défenseurs des droits humains se mobilisent suite à la promulgation de deux lois ces dernières semaines, l’une contre la pornographie, l’autre contre l’homosexualité.

Aid-Cuts Talk a Rumour – BoU | 9 March 2014 | allAfrica | The Observer (Kampala)
Government will not cut its growth prospects because of the donors’ threats to cut aid, the Central bank governor has said.

Homophobie en Ouganda: Orange arrête sa publicité dans Red Pepper | 11 March 2014 | RFI
Le géant français des télécom, Orange, vient d’annoncer qu’il cessait ses campagnes de publicité dans le tabloïd ougandais Red Pepper. Celui-ci a publié fin février une liste de 200 personnes prétendument homosexuelles.

Uganda anti-homosexuality law challenged in court | 11 March 2014 | BBC Africa
Ugandan Activists Fight Anti-Homosexuality Law in Court | 11 March 2014 | Voice of America
Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Law Challenged | 11 March 2014 | Human Rights Watch
Ouganda : la loi antihomosexualité contestée devant la Cour constitutionnelle | 11 March 2014 | Jeune Afrique
Ouganda: des pressions pour faire invalider la loi anti-homosexualité | 13 March 2014 | RFI
Ugandan rights activists and politicians Tuesday filed a petition in the Constitutional Court challenging the country’s new anti-homosexuality law.

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.

To see the sources of IPIS’ briefings, please click here.